A Women's March is officially happening in 2019 and here's why we're joining it

Look out for the #WomensWave

Womens March 2017, London, Banners
Don't turn back the clock
(Image credit: Gemma Day)

Look out for the #WomensWave

It has officially been announced that a new Women’s March is on the horizon, taking place in January 2019, and to be honest, we can’t wait. But before we dust off our make shift signs and put on our pink knitted ‘pussy’ hats, let’s go over the basics:

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Two years ago saw the biggest international demonstration in history as millions of people across the world took part in the Women’s March on January 21st, the first day of Donald Trump’s presidency.

Their aim? ‘To express to the new administration and Congress that women’s rights are human rights and our power cannot be ignored’. And what initially started out as a grass roots reaction by one grandmother against Trump, went on to become a cross-social, global movement with over 600 ‘solidarity’ marches around the world and over 100,000 people taking to the streets in London.

On the one year anniversary of the OG Women’s march, women took to the streets once more in 2018, but this time to promote the #MeToo and #TimesUp campaigns, condemning misconduct and calling for change.

(Image credit: London-Irish Abortion Rights Campaign)

January 2019 will mark two watershed years since the first ever women’s march, and while they have been momentous for making change, they have also been a giant kick in the teeth for women – from the unearthing of the shocking gender pay gap statistics to the disturbing blame culture around violence against women, showcased in the aftermath of Grace Millane’s murder just this month.

We’ve come a long way, but there’s so much further to go.

A 2019 march has been confirmed for January 19th, with the Washington DC march dubbed Women’s Wave and prompting sister marches across the globe.

Womens March 2017, London, Banners

Marie Claire's #handsoffourrights
(Image credit: Gemma Day)

‘Reminiscent of the 1912 Bread & Roses protests which revolutionised workers’ rights for women, Women’s March London will galvanise thousands for a Bread & Roses rally against Austerity in the United Kingdom,’ read the save the date on the Global Women’s March website. ‘It is the common denominator in the rise of economic oppression, violence against women, gender pay gap, racism, fascism, institutional sexual harassment and hostile environment experienced by marginalised groups of people in the United Kingdom who are the many not the few.’

It continued: ‘With the imminence of Brexit, we want austerity to end and are demanding specific assurances from the UK government. It is time to eliminate the dividing line between the ‘Haves’ and ‘Have Nots’. Equality demands that we all get to thrive and not just survive. We demand Prosperity not Austerity.’

Womens March 2017, London, Banners

Donald Dump
(Image credit: Gemma Day)

Want to join the movement? Here’s your chance.

The Women’s March 2019 will start at 10am on 19 January 2019.

Find more information at womensmarchlondon.com.

See you there to make history.

Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.