Local women march in Seattle January 21

The Womxn’s March on Seattle, in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington, will take place at 10am on Saturday, January 21. It begins with a rally at Judkins Park, 2150 S Norman St
Seattle 98144, and concludes at Seattle Center. There are eleven sister marches in Washington State.

More than 200 events are planned on January 21 in 46 states and 30 countries. This was a grassroots response to the 2016 election, according to Paula Goelzer, a Seattle-based birth doula, who started the Facebook event for the Womxn’s March on Seattle after she and her colleagues heard about the march in Washington D.C.

Goelzer said, “We all agreed it would feel good to march, to be enveloped by likeminded community members spurred into action by the rhetoric of the election, but our jobs made the DC march impossible. The response on the Facebook event was instant, and overwhelming, with thousands signing up the first day.”

Organizers of the Womxn’s March on Seattle recognize that this groundswell of activism is a continuation of the work that marginalized groups have undertaken for decades. The organizers hope that the event can serve as a catalyst for participants to become involved with existing social justice groups. The fight for peace and equity is long; the Womxn’s March on Seattle is a loud, proud, and forceful step on this journey.

The Womxns March on Seattle is a silent march. After the initial rally, marchers will walk quietly along the route. The silent march is a political statement modeled after the rich tradition of the Civil Rights Era. It is a statement of solidarity and unity; it is a rebuke of violence and anger. The silent march is a way to ensure attendees words are not used against them, nor that any one voice is prioritized over the other. Attendees are encouraged to bring art and signs, and there will be some ready-made signs available at the rally. Attendees will be encouraged to chant, sing, and shout at the end of the route and into Seattle Center.

More information is available on the march website and social media. The march route is accessible to both motorized and non-motorized mobility vehicles and strollers, and attendees are encouraged to bring their children and families.

The organizers of the Womxn’s March on Seattle would like to publicly thank the City of Seattle and the Seattle Special Event Committee, in particular representatives from Seattle Police Department, Seattle Department of Transportation, Parks and Recreation, and King County Metro, for their assistance in planning and organizing this momentous event.

33.000 people have indicated that they will march, including many from Shoreline, Edmonds, and surrounding communities, men as well as women.