Newsletter | Jan/Feb 2018

OWA+DP at Women's March in OAKLAND - Bridget Basham

OFFICIAL BUSINESS TRANSITION MEETING - Maryam Moayery NIa

2018 PROGRAMS - Maryam Moayery NIa

On Saturday June 20th, a small group of OWA+ DP members and friends gathered in front of the Oakland Museum of California. The Museum entrance on 10th was chosen precisely because it is the landmark mid-way between Lake Merrit BART and the lakeside Amphitheater - the official starting point of the Women's March.
We prepared our placards, more careful than others to remain bi-partisan. We all gawked at the predominantly pink, passing parade, with many boasting new (often political) associations and affiliations. There was a sense, especially as we met one another and chatted, that we had found our community, in a community that while smaller than
last year, was still an impressive 50,000.
Our group couldn't hear the PA and peeled off the route immediately before congregating with the masses on Frank H Ogawa Plaza, given the late hour we finally arrived there. None of this seemed to bother us.
I personally had the treat of walking alongside long-time OWA member Spring Friedlander and thoroughly enjoyed our conversation which kept us
constantly falling behind the other OWA Marchers Rachel Slonicki, Bridget Basham, Spring Friedlander, Caroline Soo-hoo, Cameron White, Allison Kinst and Allison's cousin from Australia.
A beautiful and sunny day for an event that I overheard was criticized for black and brown peoples being underrepresented and coordinated. A reminder to constantly demand, "Justice for All" as one OWA + DP placard had put it.