Time to March, United We Stand, Divided We Fall

By Marcy Mistrett, CEO

On the eve of the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States, I have done a lot of reflection on the need for a peaceful transition of power as one of the core tenants of our democracy.  It’s a moment for our incoming leader to set the roadmap for the country over the next four years.  It is a day filled with deep tradition and symbolism. 

President-elect Trump will have the opportunity to demonstrate his protection of the U.S. Constitution on January 21; on a day that the Campaign for Youth Justice will join 200,000 women to assemble peacefully—this is not protest—it is democracy. And MARCH in support of the unifying principles of the day: We believe that “women’s rights are human rights and that human rights are women’s rights”.

We will march to support the end to the criminalization of women and girls, for, “We believe it is our moral imperative to dismantle the gender and racial inequities within the criminal justice system. The rate of imprisonment has grown faster for women than men, increasing by 700% since 1980, and the majority of women in prison have a child under the age of 18. Incarcerated women also face a high rate of violence and sexual assault. We are committed to ensuring access to gender-responsive programming and dedicated healthcare including substance abuse treatment, mental and maternal health services for women in prison. We believe in the promise of restorative justice and alternatives to incarceration. We are also committed to disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline that prioritizes incarceration over education by systematically funneling our children—particularly children of color, queer and trans youth, foster care children, and girls—into the justice system.” 

It would be nice to have newly sworn in President Trump walk in solidarity with those who march on the 21st.  It would be a tremendous step forward in executing his oath of office and defending the U.S. Constitution. It would also demonstrate that the values of our country include those that honor and respect our women, mothers, grandmothers and children.