Windy City Times: 300,000 Rally at Women's March Chicago Event
On January 20, Windy City Times reported
An estimated 300,000 people gathered at Columbus Parkway near Grant Park for the Women's March Chicago rally and march Jan. 20 under the theme March to the Polls.
Last year's event, held the day after the presidential inauguration (Jan. 21, 2017), attracted approximately 250,000 people in protest of the 2016 election results.
Northwestern University's Associate Chaplain and Director of Interfaith Engagement Tahera Ahmad opened the rally with a Muslim greeting and justice and peace chant.
Among the speakers were Parker, NBC's Chicago Fire actor and activist Monica Raymund, philanthropist and progressive activist founder of Need to Impeach Tom Steyer and many women elected officials in the Chicagoland area including Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia, Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer (10th district) and Ald. Michele Smith (43rd Ward).
CAIR Chicago's Asha Binbek spoke about the danger of having a Trump mindset because it is used to divide people not bring them together. Binbek also stressed the importance of civic engagement, including voting and running for office.
Other speakers included WMC Executive Director Claire Shingler and Board Members Kraiem, Ann Scholhamer, Carrie Kiley, Liz Radford, Jaquie Algee and Jessica Scheller and WMC Lead Marshal and Safety Instructor Shani Smith.
Deborah Lane (ATU) and the Bryant Jones Choir and DJ Heather closed out the rally with a performance ahead of the march west toward Federal Plaza.
See womens121marchonchicago.org/ and www.wearemarchon.org/operation-marching-orders/ for more information.