The march that has brought out hundreds locally and inspired millions of progressive activists internationally is back. The third annual Women’s March will convene Saturday at the Homer Education and Recreation Complex, better known as the HERC.
Amy Woodruff is one of the organizers of the event, and she says this year’s theme centers on women taking an active role in government.
"Whether that's being a representative, whether that's showing up to marches, whether that's showing up to the polls, sending letters," she said. "It's about taking our values and putting them into action and this is just one of the many ways that we do that."
She says the local march is adopting the Women’s March on Washington’s slogan: #Women’sWave. Homer’s organizers also plan to live stream the national Washington D.C. march and other global marches at the Kachemak Bay Campus after the local event wraps up.
There’s been allegations of anti-Semitism and financial mismanagement among national organizers. In a rebuke to national Women’s March leadership, organizers in some cities are holding a separate march.
Satchel Pondolfino is a local organizer. She explains other than being an officially recognized event, Homer’s march has no other relation to the movement’s national arm. However, she thinks it’s ok for some marches to be divided.
“Because those kinds of conversations need to be had and bringing light to it is how we start those conversations," she said. “That is not what's going on in Homer. And I think the Homer Women's March is very inclusive. We want everyone to feel equally able to organize and lead and participate in the Women's March.”
Residents have already been making signs for the march. Pondolfino says some call for more compassion from lawmakers and supporting others as well as championing women’s rights.
She says participation in Homer declined last year, but she’s still expecting a good turnout for the march.
“Especially with the shut down right now, a lot of people are feeling frustrated and helpless and this is one way to re-engage and come together as a community and talk about the changes that we are hoping to see in our leadership,” she said.
Along with the march, organizers are also screening a film about women’s role in history at the Homer Public Library next week.
Saturday’s event will begin at 11 a.m. at the HERC.
