A group of about 40 people plan to leave Cumming Friday for a bus ride to Washington, DC, to participate in Saturday's Women's March on Washington.
Sponsored by Democratic Women of Forsyth County, they will join thousands of other people from around the country who will march and demonstrate in the nation's capital during and after Donald Trump's inauguration as the nation's 45th president.
According to the WMOW's mission, which is posted on the group's website, the Women's March on Washington was born out the rhetoric of "the past election cycle (which) has insulted, demonized, and threatened many of us - immigrants of all statuses, Muslims and those of diverse religious faiths, people who identify as LGBTQIA, Native people, Black and Brown people, people with disabilities, survivors of sexual assault - and our communities are hurting and scared."
Anita Tucker, the incoming Third Vice Chair for the Forsyth County Democratic Party and theTreasurer for the Democratic Women of Forsyth County, is lead organizer for the group heading to Washington from Cumming.
"We chartered a 40-passenger bus to take approximately 37 people, mostly ladies," Tucker said. "My fellow marchers range in age, ethnicity and party affiliation."
Why are they going?
"Well, each person on the bus has a unique story," she said. "Some of the people are extremely afraid they will lose their hard earned Social Security and/or healthcare benefits. Some are angry that the popular vote did not matter. Some are afraid and angry that the inroads we have made to make America a more equitable and safe place to live for people that have been marginalized is very much at risk. We march for our families, our friends, our colleagues, people that voted for Mr. Trump who now see the writing on the wall."
Tucker, a former candidate for a seat on the Forsyth County Board of Education, added that Trump's election has awakened "a sleeping giant" that does not have a particular political party affiliation and cannot comprehend how this happened. Sometimes "awful, terrible, unimaginable things have to happen," she said, "before we rise above our daily, comfortable routines to make things right."
And, Tucker added: "I personally have never been so inspired to oppose anything, ever. The mere thought of where we are headed unites us, especially the women of North Georgia."
