Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Local women organize buses for Women's March on Washington, January 21

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The Women's March on Washington, D.C., will send a strong message to the new administration in Washington on its first day in office.

“Women's rights are human rights, and we will fight not only to protect our advances so far, but to keep moving forward until women have equity and parity at all levels of society,” is the message that will be carried by the more than 200,000 people expected at the January 21, 2017, almost 200 of them from right here in Northwest Indiana.

Local organizers Rebecca Reiner and Julie Storbeck both felt they needed to do something after the recent election, and the Women's March is providing that outlet.

“This isn't an anti-Trump protest,” said Storbeck. “It's about policy, and policy makers. When you look at Trump's cabinet picks, you see a lot of folks who've voted against re-authorizing the Violence Against Women Act, against the Ledbetter Act for fair pay, and against insurance companies covering birth control, for example. These are the people who will set the tone of the Trump Administration and advise him on these issues? That's pretty scary.”

“It's a way to put, and keep, women's rights in the spotlight. Our values are family values, they’re American values. We have to make that loud and clear,” added Reiner.

Both women agree there's a positive tone to this Women's March. “We'll be networking, building alliances, and learning from each other's experiences,” said Storbeck. “We have women going who have marched for civil rights in the 60's, for the ERA in the 70's, against the draft in the 80's, and right up to today. They’ll be marching alongside young women who will be the future of our movement. We've accomplished a lot over several generations, and we're not going back, especially when there's so much left to do.”

The two hope women from all over the region will join in this historic effort.

When the organizers chartered buses to Washington, D.C., they chose to leave from Portage because of its central location between Lake and LaPorte Counties. Round trip tickets cost $120 and can be reserved through HoosierWomen@gmail.com.

The buses will leave Friday night, January 20, following a farewell dinner, leave the capitol Saturday night after the march, and arrive back in Portage on Sunday morning. “It's an overnight drive, the bus is roomy, riders can bring dvds to watch, and we'll stop for a group breakfast with time to clean up before we roll into D.C.” Reiner said.

Not everyone is traveling by bus. Dozens of area women are flying or ride sharing by car or RV. Storbeck stressed the importance of those women connecting with her and Reiner. “No matter how they get there, we want to make sure they have all the information they need for march day, and know they aren’t alone. We want to be able to find each other, too!”

The two women are working closely with state and national organizers to ensure a safe and successful march for everyone who attends.

Those who are unable to go to the Women’s March can sponsor a bus ticket, or part of a ticket, or donate snacks and drinks for the bus ride or the march. They can be involved in local activities and events like the farewell dinner, or attend a sister march in Chicago or Indianapolis.

For more information about the Women's March, contact Rebecca Reiner or Julie Storbeck at HoosierWomen@gmail.com

 

 

Posted 1/3/2017

 
 
 
 

 

 

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