"We will use the occasion to focus on the State of OUR Union, our opposition to his agenda, and we will lift up a progressive and inclusive vision of our country." (Photo: Laura Flanders Show via Twitter)
Women Take the Stage for 'The State of Our Union'
“There is nothing more powerful than women coming together and demanding change."
Five hundred women from across the country are gathering in Washington, D.C. for tonight's State of Our Union, which offers an alternative vision for our country in which gender and economic justice can overcome forces that seek to divide our nation along fault lines of race and class.
"The State of Our Union is ready to lift truth up, to raise our voices collectively and move mountains to create the United States that we all deserve," said Chelsea White, from Haywood, North Carolina. "We know what it takes to rebuild our communities, and we are ready."
Hosted at the National Press Club on Jan. 30 from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time, the State of Our Union will be livestreamed at stateofournion.org.
White, a leader from Down Home North Carolina, a grassroots group in Appalachia, is one of the evening's featured speakers. Other speakers and performers include U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Alicia Garza, cofounder of #BlackLivesMatter, and Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood.
"The truth of Appalachian women has been drowned out for too long by a picture that's been painted of helplessness, but our truth is the foundation of this country," said White, 24, who was born and raised in Appalachia by a single mother. "There's a new wave of defiance growing in the mountains, and that defiance is female; it is young and old; and it is every color of the rainbow."
More than fifty groups have come together to create the State of Our Union. DHNC is an affiliate of People's Action, a national network of grassroots organizations, and she joins women from People's Action affiliates in nine states at the event. National organizations present at the event include MomsRising, the Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Color of Change, Women's March, MoveOn and Girls for Gender Equity / #MeToo.
"There is nothing more powerful than women coming together and demanding change," said Ai-jen Poo, executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. "We have already demonstrated that we are willing to carry more than our share of the weight in defending our democracy. It's now time for action and solutions - on everything from sexual assault and harassment to low wages and pay equity; from elder care and childcare to paid family leave. "
Jayapal, the first Indian-American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, joins other lawmakers including John Lewis and Maxine Waters in refusing to attend the official State of the Union address.
"With all the racism and hatred coming out of this White House, I will NOT be attending Donald Trump's State of the Union address," she wrote in a statement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. "We will use the occasion to focus on the State of OUR Union, our opposition to his agenda, and we will lift up a progressive and inclusive vision of our country. I hope you'll join us."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Five hundred women from across the country are gathering in Washington, D.C. for tonight's State of Our Union, which offers an alternative vision for our country in which gender and economic justice can overcome forces that seek to divide our nation along fault lines of race and class.
"The State of Our Union is ready to lift truth up, to raise our voices collectively and move mountains to create the United States that we all deserve," said Chelsea White, from Haywood, North Carolina. "We know what it takes to rebuild our communities, and we are ready."
Hosted at the National Press Club on Jan. 30 from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time, the State of Our Union will be livestreamed at stateofournion.org.
White, a leader from Down Home North Carolina, a grassroots group in Appalachia, is one of the evening's featured speakers. Other speakers and performers include U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Alicia Garza, cofounder of #BlackLivesMatter, and Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood.
"The truth of Appalachian women has been drowned out for too long by a picture that's been painted of helplessness, but our truth is the foundation of this country," said White, 24, who was born and raised in Appalachia by a single mother. "There's a new wave of defiance growing in the mountains, and that defiance is female; it is young and old; and it is every color of the rainbow."
More than fifty groups have come together to create the State of Our Union. DHNC is an affiliate of People's Action, a national network of grassroots organizations, and she joins women from People's Action affiliates in nine states at the event. National organizations present at the event include MomsRising, the Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Color of Change, Women's March, MoveOn and Girls for Gender Equity / #MeToo.
"There is nothing more powerful than women coming together and demanding change," said Ai-jen Poo, executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. "We have already demonstrated that we are willing to carry more than our share of the weight in defending our democracy. It's now time for action and solutions - on everything from sexual assault and harassment to low wages and pay equity; from elder care and childcare to paid family leave. "
Jayapal, the first Indian-American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, joins other lawmakers including John Lewis and Maxine Waters in refusing to attend the official State of the Union address.
"With all the racism and hatred coming out of this White House, I will NOT be attending Donald Trump's State of the Union address," she wrote in a statement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. "We will use the occasion to focus on the State of OUR Union, our opposition to his agenda, and we will lift up a progressive and inclusive vision of our country. I hope you'll join us."
Five hundred women from across the country are gathering in Washington, D.C. for tonight's State of Our Union, which offers an alternative vision for our country in which gender and economic justice can overcome forces that seek to divide our nation along fault lines of race and class.
"The State of Our Union is ready to lift truth up, to raise our voices collectively and move mountains to create the United States that we all deserve," said Chelsea White, from Haywood, North Carolina. "We know what it takes to rebuild our communities, and we are ready."
Hosted at the National Press Club on Jan. 30 from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time, the State of Our Union will be livestreamed at stateofournion.org.
White, a leader from Down Home North Carolina, a grassroots group in Appalachia, is one of the evening's featured speakers. Other speakers and performers include U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Alicia Garza, cofounder of #BlackLivesMatter, and Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood.
"The truth of Appalachian women has been drowned out for too long by a picture that's been painted of helplessness, but our truth is the foundation of this country," said White, 24, who was born and raised in Appalachia by a single mother. "There's a new wave of defiance growing in the mountains, and that defiance is female; it is young and old; and it is every color of the rainbow."
More than fifty groups have come together to create the State of Our Union. DHNC is an affiliate of People's Action, a national network of grassroots organizations, and she joins women from People's Action affiliates in nine states at the event. National organizations present at the event include MomsRising, the Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Color of Change, Women's March, MoveOn and Girls for Gender Equity / #MeToo.
"There is nothing more powerful than women coming together and demanding change," said Ai-jen Poo, executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. "We have already demonstrated that we are willing to carry more than our share of the weight in defending our democracy. It's now time for action and solutions - on everything from sexual assault and harassment to low wages and pay equity; from elder care and childcare to paid family leave. "
Jayapal, the first Indian-American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, joins other lawmakers including John Lewis and Maxine Waters in refusing to attend the official State of the Union address.
"With all the racism and hatred coming out of this White House, I will NOT be attending Donald Trump's State of the Union address," she wrote in a statement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. "We will use the occasion to focus on the State of OUR Union, our opposition to his agenda, and we will lift up a progressive and inclusive vision of our country. I hope you'll join us."