Several organizations and guest speakers came together for the rally in downtown Tulsa.
The 2019 Tulsa Women’s March was held at Guthrie Green and the Living Arts of Tulsa on Saturday, Jan. 19. Originally, the march was meant to be a longer outdoor demonstration, but the outdoor portion of the march was cut short by the cold. The bulk of the rally was held inside of the Living Arts of Tulsa, where vendors, speakers and activists came together to celebrate and uplift women. Speakers included Ashley Nicole McCray, former Democratic candidate for Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner, and Dr. Tiffany Crutcher, the twin sister of the late Terence Crutcher. Some of the organizations present were Domestic Violence Intervention Services, Stop Harm on Tulsa Streets, Aware Tulsa, AFT Local 6049, Green Country Democratic Socialists of America and Holy Mother Collective.
In a statement released by the Tulsa Women’s March organizers, the goals of the march were outlined as being far-reaching and all-encompassing.
“It is more than just coming together for the sake of being seen. It is more than just a banner, a sign, or a t-shirt. It is more than one person or one gender, ethnicity, or religion. It is more than us. When I think about what women have faced: Domestic violence, low wages, use of our own bodies, economics, single mothering, social security, healthcare, equal rights, equal opportunities, education, environmental rights, and many other causes, I’m reminded of the fight we have watched our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends and strangers endure. We are strong, we are resilient, we are fierce. Who else can give birth to a man and go back to work within 2 weeks? Our duties never take a break. So, let’s take a stand and fight for what we feel is most important in our lives. Many women marched while facing opposition, criticism, and unfavorable weather to fight for equal rights in the past. Many marched with no shoes, indecent clothing, and no money. They walked for miles just to be heard. We hope to hear your voice today. Join us as we get involved and ignite unity. United we stand. Divided we fall.”
As the statement suggests, marchers had a variety of reasons for attending the event. Many had prepared unique signs for the demonstration, ranging from general feminist statements to more specific issue-oriented slogans. The 2019 Tulsa Women’s March employed a strategy where ambassadors for certain issues pledge to bring at least 10 people to the march united under a particular cause, holding a sign related to the issue. One such example was the MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) group, who wore red and encouraged others to wear red to bring attention to the ongoing epidemic of violence against Indigenous women.
The activists at the 2019 Tulsa Women’s March were marching in tandem with demonstrators across the country. After the march, the Tulsa Women’s March organizers took to Facebook for a final piece of commentary:
“Please don’t let another day go by to throw yourself into the fray. Your voice, your listening ears, your time, your dollars and your radical compassion are needed and there’s no shortage of ways for you to get involved! Our speakers today made that perfectly clear. The future is created by what we do today!”
