The majority of the annual Women’s Marches took place in January, but the Seattle Women’s March will happen on Sunday, March 8 which is International Women’s Day. March coordinators wanted to shift the focus of the event away from presidential issues and back to women’s issues.
Originally the postponing of the march was reportedly because of poor weather conditions. The intense snow could have been a factor in the delay from January 18 to March 8. The first Women’s March in 2017 took place after Trump’s inauguration and was organized in response to Trump’s election to the presidency.
In an effort to shift the movement’s focus back to women’s issues the dates align perfectly for the greater focus on intersectionality in the march. Bianca Davis-Lovelace, march organizer, stated, “Our intention this year is to be more intentional about focusing on women internationally, and the plights and the struggles and the joys and the celebrations of being a woman.”
The leaders of the Seattle 2020 march are all women of color, who have decided to center the theme around racial and economic justice. At the forefront of this intersection is the wage gender gap. While white women are still paid less than their male coworkers, women of color are paid even less. Issues like this are a key part of the discussion this year’s march is hoping to bring to light. The expected turnout ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 supporters.
Sources: The Stranger 1/13/20; MyNorthWest 2/21/20
