A demonstration claiming to be a pro-woman show of solidarity against President-elect Trump appears now to be a hyperpartisan show of support for Obamacare and Planned Parenthood.
The Women’s March on Washington, which stemmed from a single Facebook post suggesting that women should descend on Washington to protest the election, is expected to draw 150,000 attendees on the day after the inauguration.
However, contrary to what some attendees may think, the march’s “top messaging lines” are not immediately about standing against sexism and misogyny, according to one organizer.
The protest’s chief messages now are about protecting Planned Parenthood and the Affordable Care Act, the march’s national co-chair, Linda Sarsour, said in a recent interview.
MSNBC’s Richard Lui asked her, “what’s the first thing you want President Trump at that time or the Senate or … the House to do for all of these marchers?”
She responded, “First of all, hands off the Affordable Care Act. We need our health insurance. Hands off Planned Parenthood and our reproductive rights. Hands off Muslims. Hands off the undocumented. Those are really our top messaging lines. Hands off our Native American sisters and brothers.”
“You will see a plethora of speakers reflecting all the progressive and social justice issues in this country,” Sarsour added. “It’s, again, one of the most intersectional movements and marches that you have ever seen in U.S. history.”
Just to review, the march’s “top messaging lines” in order of descending importance are: Protect Obamacare, protect Planned Parenthood, leave Muslims alone, leave illegal immigrants alone and lay off Native Americans.
Interestingly enough, Sarsour’s remarks came the same weekend that the Women’s March on Washington partnered with the pro-life group New Wave Feminists.
The march dissolved its partnership with the pro-life group Monday afternoon following intense online criticism.
The idea that launched the demonstration was simple enough: That women need to come together and make it known that they oppose Trump and his controversial comments about women. The original point was to make it known that many don’t think it’s OK that the Queens businessman, who once spoke on tape about grabbing women by the crotch, will be the face of the United States for the next four years.
The march’s mission statement claims its aim is 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.”
Not mentioned in the mission statement, or in the Facebook post that launched everything, are explicit mentions of Planned Parenthood or Obamacare. But now protecting those two things from the incoming administration are apparently the protest’s chief focus.
Planned Parenthood, which partnered with the march recently, must be very pleased.
(h/t LifeNews.com)
