Black Monday. On October 3rd the women of Poland quit work and took to the streets. They were saying NO to an attempt to impose a near total ban on abortion. By Thursday the Polish Parliament had overwhelmingly rejected the proposed ban. The Deputy Prime Minister is quoted as saying, “The Black Monday protest taught us humility.”

On Monday, October 24th, thousands of women across Iceland walked out of work at 2:38 to protest the country’s gender wage gap. This walk-out occurred on the 41st anniversary of Iceland’s famous Women’s Day Off, when 90% of women in Iceland stopped working to raise awareness of women’s issues. For the men, who scrambled to take care of children, cook, and work the lower-paying jobs that women tended to hold, this day would be called ‘the long Friday.’ This protest paved the way for the world’s first democratically elected female president.

On Saturday, January 21st, hundreds of thousands if not millions of women across the United states will take to the streets, marching in Washington DC, Boston, NYC, Portland Oregon, Seattle, Denver, Boise, Spokane, Olympia, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. And this is only a partial list.

Unlike the marches in Poland and Iceland, these marches don’t have a specific legislative objective. Good thing, because anyone who believes that these demonstrations are going to influence the incoming administration is engaged in delusional thinking. But the objective they do have is far greater.

We stand together in solidarity with our partners and children
for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families — recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities
are the strength of our country.
Because women’s rights are human rights.

We stand together. And on this day we will see each other. We will know on a visceral level that the sisterhood is alive and well and strong. There is power in this. There is empowerment in this. Empowerment for the times ahead.

See you in the streets!

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com