Tori Wilson
Lantern Staff
On Saturday, Jan. 25, many people gathered in Old Town Square to advocate for women’s rights. Although there were a lot of women in attendance, men also marched in solidarity. Those in attendance marched from the square to the WAVE where a number of speakers would address varying controversial issues affecting women today.
Brandi Calvert, founder of Wichita’s Women’s March, felt inspired to get involved after the 2016 presidential election and has now orchestrated four marches in Wichita. In terms of women’s rights, Calvert would like to see more laws that would protect women in scenarios of domestic violence and sex trafficking.
“I would like to see a law that specifically has to do with women’s safety,” Calvert said.
This year as people gathered into the square, they were led in numerous chants. A few of them being, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, sexual violence has to go!” and “Women’s rights are human rights!” Then those protesting were off to the WAVE to listen to those giving a voice to the women surrounding the ICT.
Many different issues were addressed this year by the speakers including but not limited to immigration, civil rights and domestic violence.
Speaker Danielle Johnson, the assistant director for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Wichita State University, believes there is progress to be made to ensure security for women.
“We criminalize women for being women,” Johnson said. “I think we need to get past that and put policies in place that protect us, lift us up and that make sense.”
Speaking along with Johnson was Executive Director of the Wichita Family Crisis Center Amanda Myers, former Executive Director and founder of Millennium Moms Empowerment Network Inc. Juanita Ridge, Founder and Director of the Center for Social Justice Work Innovation Taunya Rutenbeck, former Democratic member of the Kansas House of Representatives Melody Miller, former president of Thrive ICT Janet Federico, along with a few others as well.
“I’m a little outraged that we are not more political, but I understand this is a hard place to really plant your flag because people are afraid that if you make too many waves then we’ll lose a little bit of ground,” Faith Martin, a marcher, said.
Overall, the event gave an outlet for people to protest and listen to the speeches given, inspiring those in attendance to continue the fight for women’s rights and equality. Calvert plans to continue working hard to provide a platform for women in the ICT area to be able to express their concerns with women’s rights.
