Mid-Missourians gathering Saturday for Solidarity March
Columbia will host a march on Saturday in solidarity with D.C. Women’s March.
While Friday will be a celebration for many across the nation, more than two dozen groups in Columbia are joining protestors across the country marching against the new president.
Women’s Marches will also take place in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield.
One of the nearly 24 organizers, Mark Haim, director of Mid-Missouri Peaceworks said the groups started planning the event back in November.
“Really as soon as we found out in November, we started planning,” Haim said. “We knew we wanted to do something.”
Haim says so far the Facebook event has attracted more than 800 people.
“Many people in our community and across the country are concerned about Donald Trump’s agenda for this country,” Haim said.
The reason for partnering with the Women’s March in D.C. was what Haim said is a very anti-women agenda from Trump’s administration.
“We see a lot of anti-women agenda,” Haim said. “Something needs to be rejected that’s why we are in solidarity with the Women’s March.”
Nearly 1,000 miles east, a celebration is underway as Trump supporters get ready to watch their candidate be sworn as the 45th President.
Sara Walsh, a Missouri State Republican Committeewoman spoke to ABC 17 News while in D.C. and told us on the phone that the environment in D.C. is happy.
“All we’ve seen is people with a big smile and happy just celebrating.”
Walsh is aware there is another side that isn’t celebrating.
“Well you know, I mean we are looking forward to a peaceful transition of power. Here in America that’s what is amazing unlike other places in the world.”
The Mid-Missouri Solidarity March will start at the Courthouse Plaza in Columbia on Saturday at 1 p.m. Another rally is scheduled around 11 a.m. Friday at Traditions Plaza on the University of Missouri’s campus.
