NZ marchers first to call Trump to heel
Kiwi women will take to the streets today, to add their voices to international calls for US President- elect Donald Trump to stop the hate his election campaign sparked.
Five protests have been scheduled around the country to coincide with Trump’s inauguration today.
Kiwi supporters of the global Women’s March on Washington movement will march in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin from 10.30am, leading the charge for more than 185 “sister” marches that will take place later today in the US and internationally.
The Auckland event — which will head from the US Consulate in the CBD to Myers Park — will feature post- march speeches from Labour MP Jacinda Ardern and broadcaster Alison Mau.
More than 200,000 people are expected to participate in the movement’s protest in the US capital, Washington DC.
Bette Flagler, who co- ordinated the Auckland Women’s March on Washington, said the demonstrations were not specifically anti- Trump and she hoped they would promote inclusion and solidarity, rather than division. “The rhetoric of the last election insulted, demonised, and threatened many people — immigrants of all statuses, Muslims and those of diverse religious faiths, people who identify as LGBT, people of colour, people with disabilities, survivors of sexual assault.
“These marches are an expression of the millions of people around the world who stand up for those who were vilified during the campaign. Our message to Mr Trump is that we will not be silent and will not allow any administration to roll back rights that have been fought for so strongly and for so long.”
Trump “must stand up for those who were the centre of the criticisms,” Flagler said.
Despite being called a “women’s” march, everyone, no matter their gender, was welcome to attend, she said. Its aim was to preserve democratic rights — including the protection of freedoms, equality, justice and a free uncensored press — for all.
“From climate change to trade, from religious rights to nuclear weapons, the new administration has spoken, often in controversial ways, about issues of global concern.
“Regardless of where we live, we are all confronted with the question of how to move forward and how to work with this new administration. In the spirit of unity, we would like to hear a positive message from Mr Trump about these topics that affect everyone.”
Wellington participants will march from Parliament to Civic Square where the Love Trumps Hate festival will begin at midday. The Auckland march will start at the US Consulate on Customs St, ending at Myers Park.
Organisers encouraged participants to bring their own signs and placards with positive messages.
Meanwhile, in Aotea Square, lobby group Aotearoa Against Trump will be staging its own protest from 1pm.
There will be speeches from Aotearoa Against Trump supporters from the transgender community, the union movement and the feminist movement among others, before marching to the US Consulate.
Aotearoa Against Trump spokeswoman Mackenzie Valgre said the aim of the protest was to “make it clear that Aotearoa stands for justice and does not support a Trump presidency”. “We are advocating for radical change of the political system that has led us to this point and we believe that this change must be formulated on a grassroots level.
“We hope that resistance to Trump’s presidency will provide a platform to make the initial steps.”
“We encourage those attending the Women’s March on Auckland to also take part in our protest against Trump’s inauguration.”