All Day, Wednesday, March 8
— by Lin McNulty —
Following the overwhelming success of the Women’s March in January as millions of women took to the streets the day after the Trump inauguration, another event is scheduled across the country: A Day Without a Woman.
On International Women’s Day, Mar. 8, women will act together for equity, justice, and the human rights of women and all gender-oppressed people, through a one-day demonstration of economic solidarity.
Anyone, anywhere, can join by making Mar. 8 A Day Without a Woman, in one or all of the following ways:
- Women take the day off, from paid and unpaid labor
- Avoid shopping for one day (with exceptions for small, women- and minority-owned businesses).
- Wear RED in solidarity with A Day Without A Woman
How might that work locally? Being a community of women-owned businesses could well mean that the core of Eastsound virtually shuts down completely on Wednesday.
We conducted a quick, non-scientific telephone poll to several island businesses which are known to have women employees. None indicated a plan to strike on that day, most not being aware of the event.
Aaimee Johnson at Orcas Family Health simply summed it up: “No. We can’t let our patients down like that.”
OPALCO women also indicated “No, we are an essential service,” but thought that several women would be wearing red that day.
No woman we contacted at Ray’s Pharmacy was aware of Wednesday’s planned nation-wide strike. Owner Rick Hughes said, “We have 100% female staff and provide an essential service. If we close, then no one would be able to have prescriptions.”
In solidarity, Orcas Issues will not be publishing on Wed., Mar. 8. All we have are women on our staff.
So Lin, should you hire some guys, just to keep things going. Have a great day of solidarity!!
Please join us for our International Women’s Day event this Wednesday from 3-5pm on the Village Green.
Rain or shine, we will be celebrating women’s achievements and inspiring one another with words of wisdom and historical milestones.
The “Raise Her Voice” open mic event will be hosted by Mandy Troxel and include a presentation by Shirley Williams, member and resident of the Lummi Nation and Community Medicine RN. Shirley works closely with Lummi Youth and Indigenous Public Health. We encourage everyone to consider sharing a story, music, inspirational writing, or whatever you feel moved to express in honor of International Women’s Day.
We also welcome everyone to make a poster or sign to hang in our “Wall of Women” area that will be sheltered by the stage overhang. Poster ideas include inspiring women throughout history, interesting facts, powerful quotes, memories, stories, etc. The more participation, the better! Please make a poster!
Bossy Feltworks will be hosting a postcard writing table, giving us all a great opportunity to contact our reps in writing! Please come with topics you would like to write about!
The PACE team that worked to put together the International Women’s Day celebration discussed the national strike and decided that given the number of retired women and small business owning women and farming women at lamb season on the island, we could best show sisterhood and solidarity on Orcas by creating an event that invites women of all ages and lifestyles to come together in a powerful, uplifting way. If you are striking, closing down your business, shortening your hours, or in some other way choosing to make space in your day to acknowledge the power women have struggled for and must use to change the world, we hope to see you on the Village Green!