Lysa Salsbury, director of the University of Idaho Women’s Center, considers herself fortunate that her personal views have aligned so well with her work.
Aside from her work at UI, Salsbury is coordinating the Moscow Women’s March Saturday afternoon along with other members of the community.
“I know there is a lot of women that don’t feel like the Women’s March is effective, important or necessary,” Salsbury said. “I would hope that those communities feel that they would be welcomed and I think it’s important to ensure that those voices are represented also.”
Alex Brizee | Argonaut
Iris Alatorre, UI Women’s Center office manager, paints a sign for the Women’s March happening Saturday.
Working everyday on a college campus, Salsbury feels inspired by the young minds and ideas, allowing her to wake up each morning excited about her work not only at the Women’s Center but around the community.
Mag Haener, a planned speaker for the Women’s March, did not attended last year’s event as they felt frustrated with feminism becoming a trend versus a movement. Though after being asked to speak at the rally, Haener reconsidered.
“My gender identity has changed, from that first Women’s March, like I’m not a woman really anymore, and making the dissection that the Women’s March is for every gender, is for equity across everything, I think that is the main point I want to drive home in my being there,” Haener said.
President Donald Trump is the least of Haener’s concern, when it comes to feminism and the issues at hand. Though Trump may be considered the “big demon,” he is not the root of women’s rights and issues, which have been around for centuries — a system designed for the success of white men, Haener said.
Haener considers theirself a person of privilege as a white passing fem. Though they may feel a sort of “imposter syndrome” being a person of privilege, they are able to shed light on these issues to people who may not understand the movement, Haener said.
“Our goal is try to create unity to acknowledge the pain that specific communities have felt. … First of all, we have to repair the harm that has been done and that pain,” Salsbury said. “And then a call for unity and solidarity in a way that is inclusive, validating and affirming of all identities.”
Though the Women’s March may be more recognized in larger cities, those areas already have access to a great deal of resources. In places such as Moscow — where the resources are more scarce — having these marches allows people to have that greater sense of community and know there is a place for them, Salsbury said.
For Sandra Kelly, a Moscow community member helping organize the Saturday’s event, being able to help has been so impactful. There is not as much recognition with smaller tasks, but she said she doesn’t need it — having a small part in such a large thing is the most important thing to her.
“Ultimately the goal of feminism and the women’s movement should be to eradicate all oppression,” said Salsbury.
The Women’s March will begin noon Saturday by the parking lots east of Moscow City Hall. Attendees will continue from there to East City Park, where the rally will begin around 1 p.m.
Collection boxes will be at the event for people who want to donate non-perishable goods for federal workers affected by the shutdown, Kelly said.
“If your feminism doesn’t include women of color, queer women, indigenous women, fat women, disabled women, sex workers then it’s not feminism,” Haener said.
Alex Brizee can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @alex_brizee