Delaware women to march in Washington for unity

In Delaware and nationwide, women are preparing to head to Washington, D.C., in an effort to challenge the hate and increasing divide spawned by the recent presidential election.

People from across the country are planning to descend on the nation's capital on Jan. 21 – the day following the presidential inauguration of Donald J. Trump – for the Women's March on Washington. The march is an attempt to "send a bold message to our new administration on their first day in office, and to the world, that women's rights are human rights," according to the organizer's website. 

A message Delaware organizers hope the rally conveys is one of unity.   

"This rally has grown to represent more than women’s rights," said Angela Anacay, the lead organizer for Delaware. "The divisiveness observed and felt in the country during the campaign and post-election is reminiscent of the civil rights era. This is a unifying movement for anyone and everyone who has felt marginalized and are against hate, against injustice, for human rights, and for women's rights."

The march began as a plea by Hawaii grandmother Teresa Shook, who according to Reuters, went on a popular political group on Facebook and wrote: I think we should march. Four weeks later, organizers credit Shook's quiet plea with igniting what could be the largest demonstration in the nation's capital related to a presidential election.

As of Sunday, more than 154,000 people had posted on the national organization's Facebook that they are going to the capital, with about another 238,000 saying they are interested in attending. Sister protests are planned in 15 other countries, including Britain, Canada and Mexico. There are rallies being planned in Delaware for those unable to go to Washington. 

Anacay estimates about 1,000 people from Delaware will attend the march in Washington, which convenes at 10 a.m. at Independence Avenue SW and Third Street SW, near the U.S. Capitol.

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One Delawarean planning on attending the march is Wilmington Councilwoman Maria Cabrera, who said this has been a long time coming. Cabrera said she'd talked about the need for a rally like this.  

"I'm not taking credit for it, but a year ago at an event that I was asked to speak at, I said we needed a Million Woman March," she said. "We need to come together as women because we need to heal our communities. We need to heal our nation."

Cabrera said women tend to focus on details that men sometimes gloss over. So if women's voices and opinions are heard, maybe there are solutions that can be developed.  

"Our voices have to be put in the forefront," she said. "You can't keep ignoring our voices."

Cabrera added she would invite her daughters to attend and would most likely take her 13-year-old son and at least one young girl. 

"They're the future so they're the ones who have to keep carrying the torch and work on these issues," she said. "And it's important that men are supportive of women because men right now are the ones who hold the power."

The event has gained large support in Delaware. So much so that the local organization's nine buses are already filled.  

"The organizing committee will not be chartering any more buses due to limited availability and liability," Anacay said. "Carpooling, Amtrak and individual chartering of passenger vans are options others can look into as well."

Organizers stressed that the march was an inclusive one that welcomed all races, genders, sexual orientation, age and ethnicity.  

"I am encouraged and amazed at the passion, tenacity and commitment from our Delaware marchers to being voices for all who have been or are being marginalized," Anacay said. "Our Facebook event has 776 people going to the march. Our group page for the Delaware Chapter has 1,859 members and is growing every day. Our big voices from our little state will be heard on Jan. 21, 2017."

Anacay stressed the march isn't meant to be an anti-Trump rally, rather a chance for women's voices to be heard. 

"We, as women, want our voices heard by combining our strength and marching together," she said. "The recent election held a sentiment of regression for women's rights, and we just cannot afford to go backwards. Throughout history, women have been fighting for their rights, and the election cycle created a state of awakening for many women from the seeming intent to strip our rights."

Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3.

 Delaware has a fantastic group of experienced and skilled organizers who have been working extremely hard on details for each county within our state. The organizers are very committed to ensuring Delaware’s voices are heard on the say of the march, Anacay said.

"We have been coordinating with the National team and other states to make this a success," she said. "Our outlook is extremely positive."

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