MSU student organizes women’s march

Abby Guy is a junior at Mississippi State University double majoring in Political Science and Spanish with two minors in Gender Studies and Economics. With the current climate surrounding violence against women, Guy decided it was time for action.

Guy, along with community organizations like Starkville Pride, has organized a Fight from the South Women’s March which will be on Saturday, April 10 at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The march will start and finish at Fire Station Park as activist will go to from the park to City Hall then up University Drive before they head back to the park.

Guy’s goal is to empower and educate people on women’s rights such as gender-based violence, gender equality, and the role climate change plays in disproportionately affecting indigenous women and women of color.

“My goal is to create a space where people can educate themselves more on women’s issues and practice activism,” Guy said. “The south tends to shy away from demonstrations of activism, and I want the community to know that it is not scary, rather it is empowering to stand up for something you believe in.”

Guy, a Diamondhead resident, is glad to have received backing from the community even after having some pushback. She has gotten the support from Strangebrew Coffee who will provide beverages for those at the march.

“I was really worried that this idea I had would just fizzle out as I hit wall after wall in the organizing process, but even though I did have some issues in planning, most people I reached out to were excited to help,” Guy said. “I really appreciate the interest and support from the community, and it really couldn’t have happened without the help I’ve received. I had a couple of incidents where I did not receive support because the march was ‘too political,’ and I haven’t even said what issues we were marching for. Just the intent to gather to support women was too political or controversial from some organizations or administrations.”

The event will start at 1 p.m. with a welcome and will follow with speakers like Santee Ezell, who is the founder of Black Girls Rock of Miss., and Morgan Gray, President of IDEAL Women at MSU. Tables will be available with information from Black Girls Rock of Miss. and Five Horizons of Starkville. There will also be information for feminist media and art.

In the end, Guy wants people to know activism does not have to be some big elaborate show, but every single person can participate in their own daily lives to make the world a better place.

“I would like the community to leave the march knowing that activism does not have to be intense and flashy to make a difference; activism can be small acts throughout your day to day life that call attention to important issues,” Guy said.

You can follow updates on Instagram for the march at @Fightfromthesouth.