On January 21st 2017, over 5 million people worldwide marched for women’s voices to be heard.
In one of the biggest demonstrations of our time, hope and optimism for the future of women was at an all time high. Days later, Linda Sarsour (a Palestinian, Muslim, American woman) was viciously attacked by right wing media for her involvement in the demonstration, despite being one of the key organisers. She was also targeted with Islamophobic and racial slurs on social media.
Sarsour expressed her concerns on Facebook. “The opposition cannot fathom to see a Palestinian Muslim American woman that resonates with the masses,” she wrote. “Someone whose track record is clear and has always stood up for the most marginalized. They have a coordinated attack campaign against me and it’s vicious and ugly. It’s not the first time, but it’s definitely more intense.”
This is something that is all too common. Muslim women are already subjected to stereotypes of submission and oppression and when they raise their voices for important causes they are undermined by false accusations of links to terrorist groups or ‘anti-West’ sentiments.
This is why it’s so important to support the Women’s March, so that women’s voices are no longer silenced or dismissed.
Women’s March have launched a new campaign ’10 Actions For The First 100 Days’ and the first action is to print out and write postcards to senators about “what matters most to you – and how you’re going to continue to fight for it in the days, weeks and months ahead.”
You don’t have to live in the US to join the initiative. Global change is needed to recognise the rights of women everywhere.
Find out more at: www.womensmarch.com
