ELECTIONS

Wisconsin women heading to post-inauguration marches

Erin Richards

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

At a Bay View coffee shop last week, a small crowd gathered to share notes about an imminent trip to Washington, D.C. Few had met in person before. But they'd connected through social media and a common desire to demonstrate for the rights of women and minority groups on Saturday, the day after Donald Trump is sworn in as president.

Melanie Heindl, right, leads a discussion at Colectivo Coffee on Jan. 12 for those planning to attend the Women's March on Washington.

While some Wisconsin residents are heading to D.C. for the inauguration of the 45th president Friday, hundreds of others are poised to attend the next day's Women's March on Washington, which may draw more road-trippers than the swearing-in ceremony itself. More than 11,000 other people have signed up to attend a sister march in Madison the same day, which is one of 386 sister marches planned by local volunteers around the world, according to a website tracking the activities. In Australia, a Wisconsin ex-patriot is organizing the Women's March on Melbourne.

"It's gotten way bigger than I thought it would, which is awesome," said Melanie Heindl, 31, an organizer in Milwaukee whose post on Facebook drew the group of D.C.-bound marchers to Colectivo Coffee in Bay View. In the past few weeks, activity on local and national Facebook pages connected with the demonstrations has swelled as people plan routes, sign up for buses, share photos and debate issues.

In general, the women's marches have appealed to liberals and progressives concerned about the direction of the Trump administration and about losing ground on social and health care issues passed under the Obama administration. Many marchers want to preserve women's rights to equal pay and control over their own health care decisions. Others are focused on keeping the Affordable Care Act in place. Others want to rally to protect the rights of minorities, members of the LGBT community and immigrant groups.

The idea for a post-inauguration march initially was raised by a retired grandmother in Hawaii, Teresa Shook, and subsequently shared on a popular pro-Hillary Clinton Facebook page, Pantsuit Nation. It quickly gained traction on social media and hit setbacks late in 2016.

After first being dubbed the Million Woman March, the demonstration faced criticism for appropriating the name of marches in the 1990s aimed at addressing the struggles of black people. Others said the march wasn't inclusive enough. Organizers also initially had trouble securing the certain permits.

Still, more than 200,000 people have indicated on Facebook they will attend the D.C. march.

8 buses headed to D.C.

At least eight charter buses are scheduled to depart for D.C. Friday from Milwaukee, Madison, Eau Claire and Appleton. Most of the buses are driving all night Friday and then leaving D.C. Saturday evening. Some tickets were initially as low as $125 or $150; others were advertised recently at around $300.

"This is not an anti-Trump march," said Martha Williamson, 61, a lead organizer for Wisconsin residents headed to D.C. "Our sole reason for going is to support the rights of vulnerable groups of people: people of different colors and different faiths and different religious orientations who could be at risk. It's a good chance for us to make our voices heard."

While the majority of marchers will likely be women, organizers say the action is for anyone interested in the rights of women and minorities, including men.

Chris Steuckle, a 44-year-old native of Cudahy and St. Francis and resident of Australia for the past decade, has been helping to organize a sister march at 1 p.m. Saturday in Melbourne.

Steuckle, a university English teacher, has been the national secretary of Democrats Abroad Australia since 2015. She took her 7-year-old daughter out of school on the day of the U.S. election with the expectation they'd witness a Clinton win together.

"I personally am demonstrating to ensure that my daughter (and son!) is able to see a more equal society around her, not just here in Australia, but also in the United States," Steuckle wrote in an email, adding that her children are dual citizens.

"I hope they are able to see that peace and equality results in a more just society."

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Madison march

Chelsea Miller, a 25-year-old University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee psychology student from Madison, was raised by two moms who married in Madison last year. After the election, when it seemed like marriage equality could be challenged, she explored going to D.C. for the post-inauguration march.

But after factoring in airfare and hotel costs and how much time she'd have to take off work, Miller decided to start a Facebook event page for a march in Madison instead. She invited 19 friends. The next day, she was shocked to see 100 people had responded. As of Wednesday, 17,000 had expressed interested in the action, which will take place from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Miller contacted more experienced organizers and volunteers and planned a one-mile march from the Library Mall to the Capitol, where a number of speeches will take place. Fundraising pages were set up to cover the costs of microphones and electricity at the Capitol and tents and permits.

Buses and ride-shares are being planned from all over the state.

Miller described herself as a homebody who keeps to herself. She never imagined she'd spearhead an event that would attract thousands of people.

"I really like what (President Barack Obama) said in his farewell speech about democracy being a participatory activity," Miller said. "Anyone can do it."