The organisers of last month’s Women’s March are preparing to launch their latest protest against President Trump’s administration.
After inspiring over two million women around the world to take to the streets on January 21st to stand against the President’s derogatory, misogynist comments and policies that negatively impact upon women, the team are calling for a general strike, setting the date for March 8th - International Women's Day.
'In the spirit of women and their allies coming together for love and liberation, we offer A Day Without A Woman,' the organisers wrote on Instagram. 'We ask: do businesses support our communities, or do they drain our communities? Do they strive for gender equity or do they support the policies and leaders that perpetuate oppression? Do they align with a sustainable environment or do they profit off destruction and steal the futures of our children?'
'We saw what happened when millions of us stood together in January, and now we know that our army of love greatly outnumbers the army of fear, greed and hatred. On March 8th, International Women’s Day, let’s unite again in our communities for A Day Without A Woman,' they continue.
In the US, a general strike is already planned for February 17. Another protest against the President’s divisive policies, it has been organised by grassroots groups, with participants pledging to be non-violent and to ‘show dissent with unconstitutional governance through gatherings and activities to be organised at the local or personal level.’
On January 28th, members of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance went on strike for one hour to show their support for those protesting Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’ at JFK airport in New York.
Protesters will doubtless be inspired by Iceland’s Women’s Strike, which took place in the 1970s. For one day, 90 percent of Icelandic women refused to go to work or fulfil any domestic duties, proving themselves to be indispensable on both counts. More recently, millions of women went on strike in October 2016 to protest against a law proposed by the Polish government, which would criminalise all abortions. It was later rejected following the strike, which became known as ‘Black Monday.’
READ MORE: Celebrities Show Their Support For Women's Marches Around The World
READ MORE: Thousands Of People Take To The Streets For The Women's March