The Women's March Connecticut takes place in Hartford Saturday: here's what you need to know

Jan. 16--Two years ago, more than 10,000 people came to the state Capitol to launch a new feminist movement, protest the inauguration of Donald Trump and stand in solidarity with women, families, people with disabilities and people of color.

On Saturday, at the midpoint of Trump's term, they will gather again. The women's march in Hartford is one of hundreds of sister marches planned across the globe.

Here's what you need to know:

What are the details?

The march will step off at noon at the Corning Fountain in Bushnell Park. Participants will walk down Trinity Street to the state Capitol, where an outdoor rally will begin at 1 p.m. Those with limited mobility or who chose not to march can go directly to the Capitol. Street parking is free on Saturdays; there are also garages on West Street and Grand Street. Participants are urged to use CTfastrak or arrive by bicycle. A group will gather at Bici Co, 95 Park St., at 12:15 p.m. to bike over as a group.

Marchers are encouraged to bring signs and banners. There will be food trucks. The Capitol building will be closed to the public.

The rally is scheduled to end around 3 p.m.

What about the controversy?

Earlier this month, the Tablet magazine published a lengthy investigation about the leaders of the national Women's March group, which included charges of antisemitism and mismanagement.

Since then, several state-based women's march organizations across the U.S. have publicly denounced the leaders and severed ties with the national group. Women's March Connecticut is affiliated with the national group but has its own leaders--25 women from across the state.

The controversy has created a dilemma for some women, who have expressed concerns about participating in the march, while others have pledged to continue participating as way to increase dialogue.

In a carefully worded statement issued Wednesday, Women's March Connecticut "unequivocally [denounced] all forms of bigotry from any source" and specifically criticizing Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader who has ties to several of the national Women's March leaders.

"We absolutely condemn the words of Minister Louis Farrakhan and acknowledge that he is perpetuating hate speech against Jewish people and the LGBTQIA+ community," the Connecticut group's said. "There is no way we can support hate speech and maintain our values. We will continue to support women of all religions, ethnicities and creeds and a part of that means admonishing those who use hateful language."

In an effort to help heal the rift, the Connecticut march is planning to host an "open forum" on racism, antisemitism and bigotry in the spring.

Meanwhile on Monday, the national Women's March announced a steering committee of 32 women --including three Jewish activists, a move hailed by the organizers of the Connecticut march.

"We fully support this new steering committee and we're very excited. It;s a step in the right direction," said Kaitlyn Shake, a women's health nurse and community activist who is helping to plan the Connecticut march.

Who will speak at the Connecticut rally?

You won't find any politicians on the schedule. "We want to give ...time to community activists and organizers that have been doing the work for years and have helped to lift up our community as a whole," Shake said.

Among those confirmed to speak include: Kristin Song, who became an advocate for changes to the state's gun storage law after her youngest son, Ethan Song, was shot and killed by an unsecured firearm; Rabbi Andi Fliegel of Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford; Alicia Hernandez Strong, an Afro-Puerto Rican political activist and executive director of Council of American-Islamic Relations CT; Sheryan Cancel, Latinx services coordinator of the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence; Shellye Davis, co-president of the Hartford Federation of Paraprofessionals and Kathy Flaherty, a disability rights lawyer, among others,

What about the weather?

The forecast remains in flux but the march and rally will go on regardless of the weather, Shake said. "I've never checked the Weather Channel this much in my life," Shake said.

But she is confident the event will be over before a potential snowstorm arrives. "It's not supposed to start until at least 5 on Saturday and we're going to get everyone out by 3," she said.

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