Salem Womxn's March

12/24/17
The Womxn's March coordinating committee is excited to be a part of making this wonderful event possible. The 2017 Women's March was incredibly successful. It provided visibility and momentum for a variety of local organizations and causes. The March is a celebration of who we are and what we have accomplished, showing that women and marginalized womxn (pronounced women-ex, also think of ‘x’ as a variable that means the word woman but when adding the ‘x’: womxn, the word now becomes more inclusive) are valued by our community. It is also the catalyst for work to be done locally and nationally in the future. The strong message it sends to our current administration is vital to protecting our rights and our very democracy.
There was controversy from last year's march in that there was a lack of inclusivity. Many people, from Salem’s own underrepresented communities expressed their disappointment that the 2017 Salem Women’s March did not feel inclusive and that care was not given to their issues. This was discussed in several forums before and after the actual day.
For the upcoming 2018 anniversary march, when the call for volunteers/coordinators went out, there was a strong emphasis on developing a coalition of new and diverse voices to show our solidarity as one community, one Salem.
With the world changing in regard to how we view, talk about, and include LGBTQ persons as well as people of color, and all of the complex and beautiful intersections in between, the decision to use an alternative spelling in the name of the march was made by the coordinating committee from the first meeting held on 12/2/17.
The use of Womxn instead of Women is an effort to include more of the people who make up our communities and the city of Salem. We understand that this is a bit confusing for people not familiar with LGBTQ issues. The fact that this decision has been well-received by so many is heartening. At the same time, it is baffling that a handful of people continue to express their opposition to the decision that has already been made by the coordinating committee after input from a wide range of stakeholders.
We hope that you will join us in this positive and uplifting event and that any questions any one has be directed to this page and to the event coordinators.
Thanks to all for your support and enthusiasm!
Womxn Belong in the Resistance!
-LeA

Our Mission:Led by a diverse and inclusive group, the Salem Womxn’s March is committed to amplifying womxn’s voices to empower and enable each other in the fight for womxn’s rights and political involvement within our communities.
By embracing our differences and acknowledging the vibrancy, diversity, and honoring our intersectionality, we can work towards our shared mission to uphold civil liberties,and rights for all womxn, and denounce hate in our community. We will utilize our strategic connections and partnerships to create real and lasting change.