St. Louis Women’s March has decided to release this official statement to clarify our position on diversity and anti-Semitism within our planning committee. We will move forward focusing on the work that needs to be done here in St. Louis, for women of all religions, colors, creeds, sexual identities here at home:
The St. Louis Women’s March is an independent Women’s March, not affiliated in any way with any other sister marches. We do not receive any assistance or funding nor do we have any communications with ANY other march chapters. Unfortunately, because of controversy surrounding lack of diversity and anti-Semitism in several high-profile marches, local marches are being painted with a broad brush and marches in other cities are being boycotted and cancelled. The St. Louis Women’s March planning committee (STLWMPC) is proudly diverse and representative of our whole community, including women of color and Jewish women. We will continue to lead by example as we march to support ALL women on 1/19/19.
From the very inception, the St. Louis Women’s March was rooted in a focus of diversity and inclusion, our ability to grapple with difficult subjects and our commitment to continually learn how we can better support women of ALL marginalized groups. Our proud team includes women of diverse faiths and spiritualties, including Judaism and Islam, women of color, many ethnic origins and non-cis gendered women. Equally as important, as the demographics that make up this group, is the breadth of activism and advocacy that our team members engage in to dismantle the systems of oppression for women and men in the local community. The St. Louis planning committee has taken great care to expand upon the Women’s March themes to focus on the issues that affect our local communities and to be as inclusive and intersectional as possible. We do not support ANY group being oppressed, marginalized or discriminated against. Period.
There is significant work to be done right here in St. Louis and as long as we can use this collective voice to inspire action that helps women of all colors and creeds, we will. We are dedicated to honoring what connects us and respecting what divides us, as we work towards breaking down those barriers. We will continue to organize a St. Louis marchthat is inclusive of all women and that aims to expand upon the inspiration of the day by turning that inspiration into action.
Our March is MO registered non-profit with pending 501(c)3 status. All committee members are volunteers and all donations go directly to the production of the St. Louis March.