1. Grab ‘em by the heartstrings – but don’t forget the permit first.
Passions rise for justice, but the historical post-inauguration event’s shaky structure leaves many anxious for answers.
By Danielle Holland | December 3, 2016
Teresa Shook had an idea.
Stirred by the recentsociopolitical conflictsurrounding the Trump presidency, she was moved to create a Facebook page
call for action to which she invited forty of her friends to participate in a march.
However, what began as one grandmother’s idea rapidly snowballed into a national movementwhen the page was shared
on a well-known Facebook group by the name of“Pantsuit Nation” – a popular social advocacy organization founded by
Libby Chamberlain.
Circumstances quickly escalated with Mrs. Shook’s grassroots movementthrust in the spotlight – and it wasn’t all glitter and
gold.
Sharp criticism arose over Shook’s decision to initially name the group “Million Women March” – a reference to the 1997
civil rights protest – as critics were less than enthused with the problematic irony ofthe group’s homogeneity and
subsequently limited scope of representation.
Fast forward three weeks and the collective has a shiny new setof youthful figureheads, seasoned organizers scrambling to
manage logistics, a new name, and 547,000 shares.
As of this evening, the page had 129,000 confirmations for attendance and 221,000 more marked as “interested”. The traffic
became so overwhelming that it had to be splintered offinto state-specific pages for efficiency and organization. One ofthe
new faces ofthe campaign, Tamika Mallory, posted to her Facebook on Thursday, “Please excuse me ifyou are trying to
reach me and don'tgeta response. Between my family, my clients and the Women's March on Washington, I am moving
constantly and quickly”.
According to a recent article posted by Slate, a representative ofKimpton Hotels commented that the hotel group “saw a
surge ofdemand” after the announcement ofthe march.
“We do already have a lotof interest in speakers, a lotofbig names…you’re going to want to be there — this will be going in
the history books, 100%”, quoted national co-organizer Breanna Butler, who was brought on to help manage the collective’s
newfound fame along with Carmen Perez, co-founder atJustice League NYC, Linda Sarsour, Executive Director at Arab
American Association ofNew York and Bob Bland, a self-described social entrepreneur and new industrialist.
Many began booking travel for the January 21st eventwhich was scheduled to commence atthe Lincoln Memorial at
10:00AM and end at the White House, only to be shocked and in some cases outraged to find that the group had yetto
secure a local permit.
Then, news came via the National Park Service spokesman Mike Litterstthat there were in fact several other groups which
had already filed applications ahead ofthe collective,and that they likely “…won’t getthe approval to march…”. Litterst
mentioned that the National Park Service will attempt to “make every effort to accommodate their requestthough it may be
at a different time and location”.
With the organizers in a rush to find a last minute suitable replacement, many supporters are nervous aboutthe surety of
the event, expressing concerns aboutbooking and/or having already booked travel. However, most seem to remain
optimistic given the swift response and strategic change to experienced leadership,with some voicing their opinions on
possible locales.

2. If we can't be at the Lincoln, why not walk from the house ofFrederick Douglass in Anacostia. The man who said,
‘Power concedes nothing without a demand. Itnever did and it never will’. [We could] cross the river to the Capitol
Building…It is 3.2 miles and flat and we would [be] very visible crossing the river.
Responded Lucy Mize ofArlington, VA when asked ofher thoughts surrounding recentnews on the march.
Even in the face ofdauntingly unstable circumstances, an anxious group offollowers and mountains of strategic planning
ahead of them for the coming weeks, the leadership heads seem more than eager to take on their roles as national activists
and historical figures.
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