On Saturday, Sept. 30, hundreds of black women convened on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to protest white supremacy, racism and police brutality.
In wake of the violent rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, the recent march combined the efforts of March for Black Women and the March for Racial Justice.
Executive Director of Black Women’s Blue Print Farah Tanis and Dorcas Davis, an organizer of the March for Racial Justice, spoke to The Washington Post prior to the march on Saturday, Sept. 30. Davis told the Post that she and her organization planned the march for months. They wanted to act after the Minnesota police officer Jeronimo Yanez was acquitted in the killing of Philando Castile.
“I said to myself that there will not be another March for Racial Injustice that does not truly center on black women and their issues,” said Tanis. According to the organization's website, BWB aims to “Bring Black women, girls, and gender non-conforming people into full and equal social, economic and political participation of mainstream American society.”
Users on Twitter and other platforms documented the massive protests that continued where the Women's March left off from earlier this year. The spirit of resistance and unity against hate was truly evident.
I'm marching because Black women should lead our orgs, our communities, our Mayor's offices & in Governor's chairs . #M4BW
pic.twitter.com/9KIyb81BRf— Jessica Byrd (@JessicaLBYRD) September 30, 2017
Black women & girls face disproportionately high rates of sexual assault, maternal mortality, and repro rights violations. We support #M4BW. https://t.co/ofiyECz16e
— CenterforReproRights (@ReproRights) September 30, 2017
March for Black Women is happening right now! #M4BW
pic.twitter.com/f71eynGbLT— ???????????? (@DanyelleCarter) September 30, 2017
This is what solidarity looks like. We must ALL continue to speak out against white supremacy, hatred, and all forms of bigotry. #M4BW
#M4RJ
https://t.co/59nWZJH7I5— Civil Rights (@civilrightsorg) September 30, 2017
Ultimately, the goal of the marches is to call for the end of white supremacy and the harsh treatment of black women and women of color.
“…In this highly political moment of the 20th anniversary of the Million Woman March, the March for Black Women will amplify the struggles of Black women in the rural South — the 'Black Belt'," a statement from the March for Black Women read. "And demand a cease and desist of all threats to those of us who are immigrant women across the country living in fear of deportation.”