In the front of every major revolution — from the civil rights movement to Black Lives Matter — is the face of a black woman.
A group of women in Miami want to continue that tradition with the March for Black Women, the Miami Herald reports.
The march will begin at 10 in the morning on September 30 in front of a former women's prison. From there, marchers will join with demonstrators participating in the March for Racial Justice.
The March for Black Women's organizers say that it is designed to bring attention to specific issues that affect minority women.
These issues include: the wage gap, unaffordable housing, a lack of access to sexual and reproductive health care, a lack of representation in the justice system and the black incarceration rate.
“For a long time we have been sitting in the back, out of the conversation about the issues that affect us the most and we won’t allow it anymore,” said Liberty City resident and New Florida Majority activist Valencia Gunder. “It is often said that if you are a women, poor and black you have three strikes. We also have a voice, we are voters and we pay taxes."
Gunder added, “Black women have been the backbone of this country from the beginning. Don’t let anyone tell you different.”
Miami-Dade County Public Schools board member Dororthy Bendross-Mindigall said that wanting to advocate for black women and girls drew her to the march. She hopes that the event can be a turning point for her city.
“I have been to too many funerals [of children],” Bendross-Mindigall, said, alluding to Miami's gun violence. “Mostly their skin color and their zip codes prevent them from living in a safe haven.”
Although the march is for black women, teens and representatives from Miami's immigrant community are getting involved in the planning, too. The Florida Immigrant Coalition and the teenager-led Power U Center for Social Change will assist in coordinating the march.
Marcia Olivio, the director of the Miami Workers Center said that she hopes to see all of Miami's immigrant communities turn out in support of the march.
“We are calling on immigrant communities to affirm that now is the time to stand beyond solidarity for unity between black and brown communities including black immigrants,” Olivo said. “We must take action now more than ever take a stand to protect black communities, talk about anti-blackness, and to support black women. When black women win, we all win.”
Mic dropped!