BY BTL STAFF
Women will be protesting all across the country Jan. 21.
Speak up against hate and intolerance on Jan. 21 during the Women's March on Lansing, the sister event to the Women's March on Washington.
The goal of this march from 1-3 p.m. on the State Capitol steps is to be all inclusive. It will be a peaceful demonstration in opposition to the wave of hate crimes and violence, and threats of official discrimination that have prolifierated following the election. Allies from any religion, of any race, of all sexual orientations and genders, and of all abilities will stand together as a united front. Sexism, bigotry, racism, hate, or intolerance will not be accepted from the elected officials in attendance.
This includes speakers Gretchen Whitmer, Gubernatorial Candidate and Michigan Senate Democratic Leader; Lavonia Perryman, Former Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, Women's Vote Director Michigan Together, and Women of Color 4Hillary Advisory Roundtable; Dizzy Warren, Executive Director of Enroll Michigan; Gretchen Driskell, Former Democratic member of the Michigan House of Representatives; Lisa Brown, Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds, and Former Michigan State Representative; and Barb Byrum, Ihgham County Clerk, and Former Michigan State Representative. Planned Parenthood Patient Advocate Jessica Lumbreras will also address attendees.
The Sistrum Women's Choir will perform and the Women Organize Michigan Summit will immediately follow the march at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church where a warming center and child care will be available during the event.
The women rallying are for a Michigan that respects and protects all its citizens, that celebrates diversity and nurtures the human potential in everyone. This includes:
– Amending the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity
– Passing the stalled legislation that would allow no-reason absentee voting
– Changing the way Michigan electoral college votes are awarded from winner-take-all to a proportional allotment. Every vote should count.
– Creating automatic voter-registration tied to state id and driver's license renewal
– Increasing funding and support to our public schools, particularly schools in low-income areas.
– Promote evidence-based practices for Restorative Justice and Behavioral Intervention in schools, and reform / eliminate use of suspension and expulsion to help children learn and grow and to disrupt the school-to prison pipeline.
– Welcoming and promoting immigration and refugee resettlement in Michigan
– Justice for Flint and other communities of color that have been victimized by emergency management and governmental neglect and abuse, both in the courts and through providing resources
– Non-partisan redistricting to end the gerrymandered stranglehold of extreme conservatives on state government
– Raising the minimum wage to be a living wage (where 40hrs is well above poverty threshold) and linking minimum wage to cost of living/poverty threshold to ensure it stays that way.
– Protecting and strengthening women's reproductive rights and access to women's health services. Making sure contraception and abortion stay safe and legal, and become more accessible in the state.
– Supporting and encouraging Sanctuary Cities, legislative action that makes Michigan a Sanctuary State
– Criminal justice reform to reduce sentences for nonviolent offenses, and to promote rehabilitation (education, job training and placement, mental health) services both during and after incarceration to end the revolving door.
Support the event by donating online. Please register here for the summit here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/women-organize-michigan-summit-lansing-tickets-29463596410
