By Louis Chan
AsAmNews National Correspondent
Hundreds of thousands of people are descending on the nation’s capital to take part in the historic Women’s March on Washington Saturday.
The protest is a warning that they will not stand for what they consider to be the racist, sexist, misogynist, bigoted and bullying tactics and policies of President Donald Trump.
The new president will begin with a popularity rating of 40%, the lowest of any incoming president in recent history.
AsAmNews talked with three women to find out why they will join this march. Each may have different priorities, but they share the desire for social justice and equality.
Monica Thammarath says she’s marching for our kids
“I have seen and heard the Trump Effect result in the bullying and harassment of students in public schools and how teachers are struggling to respond,” said Thammarath who is an organizer ar the National Education Association and first Vice President of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance. “We can’t pass the hateful, bigoted, misogynistic, and xenophobic rhetoric onto our kids, so I’m marching because we must continue to stand up for our values and build on the progress that we have been able to make.”
Angel Sutjipto is a participant in the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum’s Reproductive Justice Leadership Institute.
“We know there are challenges ahead for the Asian American community, but we will do our part to rise to the challenge,” she said. “We will work hard to protect, preserve, and defend our civil rights, especially immigrant and voting rights.”
Her personal feelings aside about the new president, Marita Etcubanez, director of strategic initiatives for Asian Americans Advancing Justice, AAJC, says now is not the time to sit back and do nothing.
“I know that for many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, joining a protest is not how they would normally choose to engage,” said Etcubanez “At this time, when there is little that is “normal” about our political environment, we must encourage people not to withdraw but to consider getting more involved.”
She urged eligible green card holders to consider applying to become a U.S. citizen, those who have never registered to vote to do so today and for everyone to get involved in community organizing.
“I am deeply concerned about how the administration will act to devastate immigrant communities – whether it’s by deploying a “deportation force,” implementing a Muslim ban, cutting off entry for refugees from countries like Syria, ending the DACA program, or building a wall across our southern border,” said Etcubanez
Sutjipto said AAPI women, trans folks, and gender nonconforming people “live at the intersection of all of the issues we are marching in support of-access to health care, immigrants’ rights, living wages are all issues that impact our communities.”
Despite their fear and apprehension about a Trump presidency, they say the future is bright.
“I find comfort and hope when I am able to collaborate, strategize, and co-conspire with organizers and leaders who understand how dangerous the next four years can and will be for us, said Thammarath.
“Our future is as hopeful as our movements for justice are strong,” said Sutjipto. “We will use the march as the foundation of our organizing efforts to fight back to protect our rights.”
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