Tag Archives: women’s march

International Women’s Day

(CHICAGO) Organizers of January’s Women’s March have called for women to take the day off and encouraged them not to spend money to show their economic strength and impact on American society.

“A Day Without a Woman” on Wednesday is the first major action by organizers since the nationwide marches held the day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration that drew millions of women into the streets in protest against misogyny, inequality and oppression. Though it is unclear how many women could participate, thousands across the country have signaled their support and interest online and to employers.

The event coincides with the U.N.-designated International Women’s Day, and organizers say they want to “stand with women around the globe” who supported their efforts Jan. 21 with similar protests in cities around the world.

 

In Finland: The first country in the world to grant women political rights — will later this year create a $160,000 (150,000-euro) International Gender Equality Prize that will be given to “a dedicated defender and builder of equality.”

Prime Minister Juha Sipila says the award, given every other year, is the first of its kind in the world.

Sipila announced it Wednesday to coincide with celebrations of Finland’s 100 years of independence and the International Women’s Day.

Finnish women were the first in Europe to win voting rights in 1906. The Nordic nation of 5.5 million is a strong advocate for women’s rights and is seen one of the most egalitarian societies in the world along with its Scandinavian neighbors.

 

In Cyprus: The leaders of Cyprus’ Christian and Muslim faithful are pledging to work with authorities and help end violence against women and girls on the ethnically divided island.

The heads of Cyprus’ Muslim, Orthodox, Armenian and Maronite Christian communities, issued a first-ever joint statement on International Women’s Day Wednesday to condemn violence targeting women and girls.

Stating that Christianity and Islam condemn violence against women, the leaders said it is their religious duty to stand united against it. They also rejected the “misuse of religion to vindicate” violence against women and girls.

They expressed concern that violence continues to be “one of the most pervasive manifestations of discrimination” against women in Cyprus.

Researchers said almost one in three women have experienced some form of violence since the age of 15.

 

In Tokyo: Some 200 women gathered for a march to mark International Women’s Day in Tokyo, protesting against low wages, long hours and other obstacles that make their lives difficult.

Participants, many of them members of women’s groups and labor unions, chanted “It’s hard to be a woman, and our patience is running out!” and held up placards and banners saying “Let’s change our future!”

Japan lags behind most other industrial countries in women’s participation and advancement in business, academics and politics. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “womenomics” policy aims to put more women to work to counter a chronically low birth rate and shrinking workforce, but a business culture in which long hours are routine makes it more difficult for women to get ahead.

 

 

In the E.U.: The president of the European Parliament has used the occasion of International Women’s Day to promise that a Polish lawmaker will be punished for the crude, sexist comments he made last week.

EU parliament President Antonio Tajani said that he intends to bring a “swift conclusion” to the probe into the remarks of Janusz Korwin-Mikke at the legislature and promised “a penalty commensurate with the gravity of the offence.”

Korwin-Mikke, a radical right-winger who leads a marginal party, said during a debate on the pay gap between men and women: “Of course women must earn less than men because they are weaker, they are smaller, they are less intelligent. They must earn less, that’s all.”

He could face sanctions such as a reprimand, a fine or a temporary suspension.

 

 

In Denmark: Denmark’s minister for gender equality, Karen Ellemann, is focusing on paternity leave on International Women’s Day, saying equality between the sexes “also means equal opportunities to be a parent.”

Ellemann spoke Wednesday when visiting Danish companies “to learn more about what makes fathers choose as they do.”

According to official figures, Danish men in 2014 took on average 29.5 days’ paternity leave, or 11 days more than they did in 2003.

In Denmark, parents have the right to a total of 52 weeks’ leave with maternity subsistence allowance. The mother is entitled to four weeks’ maternity leave prior to giving birth and 14 weeks after; the father is entitled to two weeks’ leave after the birth; and the remaining time can be divided according to individual wishes.

 

 

In Australia: Scores of women working in the childcare industry in Australia have walked off the job early on International Women’s Day to protest what they deem inadequate pay rates.

The United Voice union, which represents the workers, said more than 1,000 staffers at childcare centers in every state and territory in Australia stopped working at 3:20 p.m. on Wednesday to call attention to wage disparities felt throughout an industry where the vast majority of workers are women.

“3:20 represents the time that Australian women ostensibly start working for free in comparison to men if you take into account the gender pay gap,” said Helen Gibbons, the union’s assistant national secretary.

“We know that this has traditionally been seen as women’s work,” Gibbons said. “It’s 2017 and this is not OK to continue. The people who work in this sector demand equal pay.”

 

The Latest: Trump urges followers to ‘honor role of women’

(PHILADELPHIA) President Donald Trump is taking note of Wednesday’s U.N.-designated International Women’s Day, and asking his Twitter followers to join him in “honoring the critical role of women” in the United States and around the world.

Trump tweets that he has “tremendous respect for women and the many roles they serve that are vital to the fabric of our society and our economy.”

Organizers of the massive women’s march in Washington the day after Trump’s inauguration are urging women to take the day off and not spend money as a way of demonstrating their economic strength and impact on American society.

“A Day Without a Woman” marks organizers’ first major action since the nationwide marches on Jan. 21 that drew millions of participants in protest against misogyny, inequality and oppression.


Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Women’s March Sets Among Largest Demonstrations in Chicago History

By Don Kleppin, WLS-AM News

(CHICAGO) On Saturday, 250,000 people gathered for Chicago’s Women’s March, making it one of the largest protests in city history.

The event was held across seven continents and hundreds of cities to show solidarity and to protest newly inaugurated President Donald Trump. Only Washington D.C. and Los Angeles reportedly had more people show up than Chicago.

So many people came in fact, the march itself was canceled.

The largest protest in Chicago history, however, happened May 1, 2006, when around 400,000 people marched against anti-immigration laws.

Examining all events worldwide, such as sports parades or rallies, the Women’s March is much further from the top. For instance, two million people showed for a parade honoring the Apollo 11 astronauts, three million for a General MacArthur speech in 1951 and a mass from Pope John Paul II drew one million.

The largest event Chicago’s history seems to be the 2016 Cubs rally and parade for which the city says five million people showed up.

How Weekend Demonstrations Will Disrupt Traffic & Public Transit

Jen DeSalvo, WLS-AM News and Traffic

Resist Trump: Occupy Inauguration Chicago

Where: Daley Plaza
When: 3:00 p.m. on Friday, January 20th

According to the Facebook event page, organizers state:

“Donald Trump and the reactionary core of the Republican Party are coming to power in 2017 on a platform of racism, sexism, xenophobia, and pro-corporate policies. We must build an independent, working-class mass movement that vows to use every ounce of our collective body and spirit to stand against Trump’s reactionary agenda from Day 1.”

The primary organization behind the event is the Chicago Socialist Alternative. As of Wednesday morning, 2,000 people have committed to joining with over 7,200 interested in the organized march.

Southsiders for Peace, an organization that spreads anti-war sentiment and works to combat racism in south side neighborhoods, will also be joining in the day’s events.

Another coordinated stand-in to happen later this evening at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago.

Traffic Implications:  The area between LaSalle to the west, Lake to the north, State to the east, and Madison to the south will be heavy with foot traffic. The CTA stations at Clark/Lake and State/Lake will be heavily used.

 

Trump Tower Chicago Inauguration Day Protest

Where: Trump International Hotel & Tower, Chicago
When: 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 20th

Over 8,000 people have pledged to join in what organizers describe as a “peaceful, non-violent demonstration showing discontent toward the rhetoric that won the president-elect the election.”

The description resumes by noting that it is standing against the verbiage that “continues to empower similar rhetoric and skewed thinking within groups of hateful people,” and has intention “to voice opposition to hate.”

Traffic Implications:  North Wabash Avenue north of the Chicago River up to Grand Avenue is expected to be full. The CTA Red line exit at Grand Avenue will be used by organizers, so other means of public transit may be ideal.

 

Women’s March on Chicago

Where: Jackson and Columbus
When: 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 21st

On the morning of January 21, 2017, thousands of women who are traveling to the capitol will hold a Women’s March on Washington, to “join in diversity to show [their] presence in numbers too great to ignore.”

Following a trying political season with a number of injustices felt by women and minorities, organizers plan to “stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families, recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country.”

In solidarity with the women who are traveling to Washington D.C., thousands of females will march in Chicago on Saturday morning.

The event begins at the corner of Jackson and Columbus in Chicago’s Grant Park.

march-mapTraffic Implications:  Over 50,000 persons are expected to march as of Friday morning, and the route for the parade is changing to accommodate the masses with the least amount of traffic implications. Columbus Drive will be closed from Monroe Street south to Balbo.  Jackson Drive, Congress and Balbo will all be closed from Michigan Ave to Lake Shore Drive. Monroe will be closed from Michigan Ave to Columbus. 

 

CTA Increases Capacity and Reroutes Buses for 2017 Chicago Women’s Rally and March on Saturday, January 21
Brown Line: Longer trains will operate in both directions between Kimball and the Loop, 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Blue Line: Longer trains will operate from O’Hare 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from Forest Park, 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Orange Line: Longer trains will operate in both directions between Midway and the Loop, 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Green Line: Longer trains will operate in both directions between Harlem/Lake and Ashland/63rd-Cottage Grove, 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

#3 King Drive, #4 Cottage GroveSouthbound buses will operate via Michigan, Adams, Clark, and Harrison, then resume their normal route on Michigan. Northbound buses will operate via Michigan, Harrison, Canal, and Monroe, then resume their normal route on Michigan.

#6 Jackson Park ExpressSouthbound buses will operate via Wacker, Clark, Harrison, State, Balbo, Michigan, and Roosevelt, then resume their normal route on Columbus. Northbound buses will operate via Columbus, Roosevelt, Michigan, Harrison, Canal, and Monroe, then resume their normal route on Michigan.

#J14 Jeffery JumpSouthbound buses will operate via Michigan, Adams, Clark, Harrison, Michigan, and Roosevelt, then resume their normal route on Columbus. Northbound buses will operate via Columbus, Roosevelt, Michigan, Harrison, and Canal, then resume their normal route on Madison.

#22 ClarkNorthbound buses will operate via Dearborn, Harrison, Canal, and Monroe, then resume their normal route on Dearborn. Southbound buses are not affected.

#29 StateSouthbound buses will operate via State, Adams, Clark, and Harrison, then resume their normal route on State. Northbound buses will operate via State, Harrison, Canal, and Monroe, then resume their normal route on State.

#36 BroadwaySouthbound buses will operate via State, Adams, Clark, and Van Buren, ending their trips at Van Buren/Canal. Northbound buses will begin their trips at Van Buren/Canal, operate via Canal and Monroe, then resume their normal route on Dearborn.

#62 ArcherSouthbound buses will operate via State, Adams, Clark, and Harrison, then resume their normal route on State. Northbound buses will operate via Dearborn, Harrison, Canal, and Monroe, then resume their normal route on Dearborn.

#126 JacksonEastbound buses will operate via Jackson, Clark, and Harrison, ending their trips at Harrison/Wabash.Westbound buses will begin their trips at Harrison/Wabash, operate via Wabash, Balbo, State, Harrison, and Canal, then resume their normal route on Van Buren.

#146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express – Northbound buses will operate via State, Harrison, Canal, and Monroe, then resume their normal route on State. Southbound buses will operate via Wacker, Clark, and Harrison, then resume their normal route on State.

#147 Outer Drive ExpressSouthbound buses will operate via Michigan, Adams, Clark, and Harrison, ending their trips at Harrison/Wabash. Northbound buses will begin their trips at Harrison/Wabash, operate via Wabash, Balbo, State, Harrison, Canal, and Monroe, then resume their normal route on State.

#151 SheridanNorthbound buses will operate via Jackson, LaSalle, and Monroe, then resume their normal route on Dearborn. Southbound buses are not affected.

Northbound #22 Clark, #36 Broadway, and #62 Archer buses will operate via Dearborn, Wacker, and LaSalle to Kinzie.#22 and #36 buses will operate via LaSalle and Hubbard, then resume their normal route on Dearborn. #62 buses will resume their normal route on Kinzie.

 

Metra service for the Women’s March on Chicago

(January 19, 2017)  

Metra will operate its regular Saturday schedule on Jan. 21 but will have expanded capacity on all lines to accommodate the expected higher ridership for the Women’s March on Chicago.

All lines that offer Saturday service will have extra capacity to handle the additional passengers, similar to the level of service offered during the busy summer festival season. Those lines include the UP North, Milwaukee North, UP Northwest, Milwaukee West, UP West, BNSF, Rock Island, SouthWest Service and Metra Electric lines. There is no Saturday service on the North Central Service and Heritage Corridor lines.

Because several platforms remain closed for construction on the north side of Union Station, limiting our ability to be flexible when adding capacity, the Milwaukee North and Milwaukee West lines each will have an extra scheduled outbound train. On the Milwaukee North an extra train will depart Union Station at 2:25 p.m., express to Glenview and then make all stops to Fox Lake. That train will be followed by the regularly scheduled 2:35 p.m. departure, which makes all stops to Fox Lake. The Milwaukee West will have an extra train that will depart Union Station at 1:50 p.m. and make all stops to Elgin except Grand/Cicero, Hanson Park, Mars, Mannheim and Big Timber.

Metra customers who are considering bringing their bikes on the trains are advised that due to the higher number of riders expected, a bicycle warning date will be in effect on Saturday. A warning date means that there is a greater likelihood that trains will be too crowded to accommodate bicycles.

Fare and schedule information for each line can be found on this website under “Maps and Schedules.” For most riders, Metra’s $8 Weekend Pass, good for unlimited travel all day Saturday and Sunday, will be the best option. The pass can be purchased on the train, from a ticket office (although most are closed on weekends) and through the Ventra App, available for download in the App Store or Google Play.