At noon yesterday at Mill Creek Park next to the 47th Street entrance of the Plaza several hundred individuals participated in a rally and march (through the Plaza) in solidarity with hundreds of similar women’s marches across the country advocating for women’s rights and commemorating the movement and the large 2017 nationwide march.
The demonstrators marched from the park toward the Plaza, to Ward Parkway, and trough the Plaza back to the park on 47th Street.
On 47th Street:
“I’m feeling 22 cents underpaid on the dollar”
“Women rising”
“I wish my uterus shot bullets so the government wouldn’t regulate it”
“Stop taxing my body”
“Uterus belongs to…”
“So bad even introverts are here”
“Pro-woman, pro-choice”
“Here’s to strong women…”
Unlike the National Archives:
“If I wanted the government in my womb I’d fuck a senator…”
Shouted from a pickup truck in traffic: ‘Trump 2020.’
Response from the picket line: ‘Fuck you.’
From the pickup truck: ‘If you don’t like it, leave.’
Wait a minute. How can that last retort make any sense? That’s not how it’s supposed to work. While the minority may possess power, they can’t dictate or control how anyone else chooses to respond to it.
A Fascist in a pickup truck. Go figure. Welcome to America in 2020.
This afternoon around 100 individuals rallied and picketed in Kansas City at Mill Creek Park, adjacent to the Plaza, against Donald Trump’s (r) escalation toward war with Iran.
“Give peace a chance”
“This asshole is going to fuck around and get us all killed”
“Diplomacy, not war, with Iran”
“No more wars. No innocent blood spilled over big oil.”
Donald Trump (r), after yesterday’s Nuremberg rally where he incited the crowd:
Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
Just returned to the White House from the Great State of North Carolina. What a crowd, and what great people. The enthusiasm blows away our rivals on the Radical Left. #2020 will be a big year for the Republican Party! 10:51 PM · Jul 17, 2019
Actually, we did see it coming. Which side are you on?
MZS @mattzollerseitz
The only silver lining of this concentration camp discussion is that it instantly tells you who the American version of Hitler’s “good Germans” are. 5:39 AM – 19 Jun 2019
If you’ve ever wondered what you would have done in Germany in the 1920s and 1930s you’re doing it now.
Court Blocks State’s Egregious Actions that would have Left Missouri as the First State Since 1974 Without a Health Center that Provides Abortion
Court Allows Health Center to Continue Services for Now — Sets Another Court Date
St. Louis – Today, the Circuit Court of St. Louis stepped in to protect the last remaining health center in Missouri that provides abortion — for now. The judge today issued a Temporary Restraining Order against the state of Missouri, allowing Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region (RHS) — the last remaining health center in Missouri that provides abortion — to continue to provide abortion for the time being. The ruling means that abortion services will continue in the state for now. The judge also set another hearing on Tuesday, June 4.
Statement of Dr. Leana Wen, President & CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
“Today is a victory for women across Missouri, but this fight is far from over. We have seen just how vulnerable access to abortion care is here—and in the rest of the country. We are glad that the governor has been prevented from putting women’s health and lives in danger—for now—and call on him to stop this egregious politicalization of public health in an attempt to ban all safe, legal abortion care in the state.
“We want our patients to know that we will never abandon the women of Missouri. We will keep fighting these attempts to end access to health care, to ensure all people can get the care that they need—no matter what.”
Statement of Dr. Colleen McNicholas, OB-GYN, Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region:
“This is a huge sigh of relief for the many patients who need access to safe, legal abortion in Missouri. The fight goes on. While temporary, we celebrate today, and tomorrow we go back to work to ensure access to abortion does not go dark at the last health center that provides abortion in Missouri. Planned Parenthood has served Missouri for more than 87 years and we aren’t going anywhere. While Governor Parson abandoned our patients, we will not. Our doors are open today, our doors will be open tomorrow, and we will fight to make sure all patients continue to receive the care they need and deserve.”
On Tuesday, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and RHS announced they expected the state health department to block services at the state’s last remaining health center that provides abortion by refusing to renew its license to provide abortion services — a move that would have left 1.1 million women of reproductive age in Missouri without a health center in their state that provided abortion.
RHS filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of St. Louis on Tuesday asking for a Temporary Restraining Order against the state’s egregious actions. Today’s ruling means that abortion services in Missouri are protected — for now.
It is not new for politicians in Missouri or elsewhere to use a combination of state laws and regulatory harassment to target abortion providers — in fact, Missouri already used similar targeting to block the only other health center in the state that provided abortions from continuing to do so in 2018. Last week, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bills, which bans abortion at nearly every stage of pregnancy and also adds more medically unnecessary abortion restrictions. Missouri’s long list of medically unnecessary restrictions are no longer just targeting clinics they are directly impacting patients and their right to evidence based healthcare free from harassment. Missouri’s demand that doctors perform invasive and medically unnecessary pelvic exams on patients is a clear indication that they have no regard for the wellbeing of their citizens. The medical literature is clear: restrictions including a 72-hour mandatory delay for patients accessing abortion that requires patients to make two trips to the health center, and demanding that abortion providers hold local hospital admitting privileges have no basis in science.
Already, 1 in 3 women of reproductive age lives in a state where abortion could be outlawed if Roe is overturned. That’s over 25 million people. While abortion bans impact everyone who can become pregnant, they hit people of color and those who are struggling to make ends meet the hardest — the people who already face barriers to accessing good health care. While those with wealth may be able to find a way around abortion bans, far too many people — especially those who already face racism, homophobia, and transphobia — will be left with no options at all.
###
Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.
Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region provides options counseling, pregnancy testing, abortion care and other reproductive services for thousands of people in Missouri, Illinois and across the region each year. Our highly-trained physicians and medical staff provide expert care in a supportive setting, no matter what. [….]
Jefferson City Today, Governor Mike Parson issued the following statement after the 22nd Circuit Court of St. Louis, Missouri, issued a temporary restraining order:
“Following today’s ruling, the State will soon have the opportunity for a prompt legal review of our state health regulators’ serious health and safety concerns regarding Planned Parenthood’s abortion facility in St. Louis. We are committed to and take seriously our duty to ensure that all health facilities in Missouri follow the law, abide by regulations, and protect the safety of patients.”
Well, that was lame. “Shut it down” didn’t work, eh? Yet.
“Serious health and safety concerns”? Really. Okay. What are they? Why aren’t those concerns listed in this press release?
Saturday’s Kansas City Women’s March was centered at Unity Temple on the Plaza. After the 2:00 p.m. march through the Plaza and back participants gathered for a 3:00 p.m. inside rally.
Kansas City Councilwoman Jolie Justus spoke at the rally:
Kansas City Councilwoman Jolie Justus – January 19, 2019.
The transcript:
Kansas City Councilwoman Jolie Justus: …You, the women and men of Kansas City are warming my heart on this cold, cold day. I want to thank you so much for your energy. And I want to tell you a little story. I want to start a little bit slower.
And I want to say, has anyone ever had this experience? Has anyone ever had someone approach you and say, where’s your smile sweetheart? Hey baby, why don’t you smile? Here’s one of my personal favorites – smile council lady.
You know, it’s a seemingly harmless suggestion. One I’m sure that most of us have heard on multiple occasions, whether we were sitting around a conference table at work or, you know, some stranger passing us on the street. But, you know, it’s unwanted advice that is frequently given to women leaders. And it is never suggested to our male counterparts.
And I want to take a moment right now to tell you why I’m not smiling. I’m not smiling because someone asked me this week why we need another women’s march. Didn’t we make our point already? Thank you.
I’m not smiling because this summer I watched some of our nation’s highest ranking leaders, they told Christine Blasey Ford that they believed her but it didn’t matter. I’m not smiling because one in three women have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner. I’m not smiling because the Violence Against Women Act expired due to the Trump shutdown. I’m not smiling because violence against transgender people, particularly transgender women of color, is at an all time high. And I’m not smiling because at the current rate of change the gender pay gap will not close until twenty-one nineteen, that’s one hundred years. So that’s why I’m not smiling. And that’s why we march. That’s why we march. And when we march in our own schedule we will smile.
And lately, I’ve been smiling a lot because I want to.
I am smiling today because I see you marching in solidarity and I see light within the darkness. I’m smiling because the State of Kansas elected Laura Kelly and Sharice Davids. I’m smiling because a record number of women were just elected to the Missouri General Assembly. I’m smiling because Kansas state employees have finally earned parental leave. I’m smiling because thirteen years after we put the work in in Jefferson City we finally passed a lethality review in an effort to decrease domestic violence deaths. I’m smiling because the city of Kansas City stopped requesting salary history, reducing the gender pay gap. And we unanimously passed a law that allows domestic and sexual survivors to break their leases and escape their abusers.
And I’m smiling, I’m smiling because it was women in power with our male allies who got these things done.
And we’re not gonna stop. We will continue to stand and expose violence, harassment and assault. We will use calls against us, those meant to silence and discredit us, to lift each other up. Nevertheless, sisters, we persisted.
It’s been two years since that sunny day in Washington Park when we first gathered to raise our collective voice. It’s been two years and we have not stopped working. We are no longer fighting from the sidelines though, we are no longer on the sidelines. We are supporting and electing women, people of color, and immigrants at every single level of government.
And now that we have a seat at the table, now that we have a seat at the table we are finally moving on with that menu. And although we have made huge strides we cannot slow down. It is only when we lift up and value all women that we will really win this fight.
So join with me today and let’s renew our commitment. Let’s renew our commitment that we will continue to march, we will continue to run, and we will continue to win. This is not an easy commitment, though. I don’t want you to think this is gonna be easy. It’s not gonna happen overnight.
Violence prevention, climate change, racism, voting rights, immigration – these are all important and none of these things can wait. But know this, in your fight you are not alone. When you feel discouraged, when you are overwhelmed and tired, remember that your friends and neighbors are working just as hard on the issues that you cannot personally tackle today. When you need a rest please take it. Know that we will be there to pick up your torch. We’ve got your back. You have to take care of yourself if you want to continue this march. And yes, that means unplugging from time to time. That also mean getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, spending time with friends, getting outside, and having fun. Do those things.
So, what’s next? What do we need you to do? Well, there are seventy-three days until your next municipal election. There are three hundred and eighty-one days until filing opens for state House and Senate. I want women in this room to file for those seats. There are six hundred and fifty-four days until the next presidential election.
Remember this, when we vote we win. When we run we win. And when we march we win. And we are on the right side of history. We’ve got this.
Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer, in conjunction with Donald Trump’s (r) border wall speech, last night via Twitter:
Blaine Luetkemeyer @RepBlaine
President Trump’s mission to thwart illegal immigration, gang violence, crime, drugs & human trafficking is in the best interest of all Americans. I support @POTUS mission to secure our border & keep our citizens safe.
I hope my colleagues will keep our promise #SecureOurBorder 7:07 PM – 8 Jan 2019
Some of the responses:
We all know his wall (which he wants us to now pay for) is not the answer. Most drugs that come thru our southern border come thru ports of entry. Less crime is committed by immigrants. If you were that concerned about our safety you would pass common sense gun laws. Next!
Don’t you have banker meeting to ignore your constituents at?
We do not want the stupid wall which he said Mexico was paying for anyway!!! No wall. No shutdown. Open the government NOW. You are complicit. #TrumpShutdown
I support opening the government and border security. Let me know when the pesos arrive for the fence
You represent my state, it’s a waste of money! Read the statistics! Open the government and stop putting federal workers in the middle of your childish games!
Here comes Blaine with the copy and paste tweet straight from the @GOP handout.
Ouch.
Unfollow, even though you are my supposed representative.
Such an empty, copy and pasted response, Blaine. I expected something deeper, really driving home your xenophobic point. Then I realized that this isn’t about easing regulations on financial institutions, and I understood why.
Emily Heil @emilyaheil
So Stormy Daniels is in fact folding laundry live on Instagram in her underwear — as Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” plays. What a country 8:07 PM – 8 Jan 2019
“…I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened…”
Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
On 245 occasions, former FBI Director James Comey told House investigators he didn’t know, didn’t recall, or couldn’t remember things when asked. Opened investigations on 4 Americans (not 2) – didn’t know who signed off and didn’t know Christopher Steele. All lies! 7:38 AM – 9 Dec 2018
Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
Leakin’ James Comey must have set a record for who lied the most to Congress in one day. His Friday testimony was so untruthful! This whole deal is a Rigged Fraud headed up by dishonest people who would do anything so that I could not become President. They are now exposed! 7:53 AM – 9 Dec 2018
