Rally Planned in Frankfort for International Women's Day

FRANKFORT, IL - At a time when the women’s empowerment movement has gained quite a bit of steam, it’s not surprising to see marches and rallies planned for Wednesday - International Women’s Day - in several places throughout the country. But an organized event in historically Republican Frankfort might come as a bit of a surprise to some.

That’s exactly what is in store for late Wednesday afternoon, however.

Frankfort resident Emily Biegel has a Women’s March planned for 4:30-6 p.m. at Breidert Green Park. It will be part of the “A Day Without a Woman” movement planned for International Women’s Day this year.

“I’ve always put my Democrat signs up at my house despite the sea of red that is Frankfort, Illinois,” said Biegel, who has always been politically active and campaigned vigorously for former President Barack Obama.

She also participated in both the Women’s March in Chicago back in January and the “Not My President’s Day” protest downtown last month. That’s what compelled her to do something locally for International Women’s Day.

“It was a terrific experience to have my voice heard beyond a Facebook post or kitchen table conversation,” she said. “Because of the success of the march, the organization kept going, and I was thrilled. I hosted women that I had never met at my home to send postcards. Then I hosted a Huddle in my home, again with people I hadn't met, but this time about 40 people showed up.

“When you live in a red town, it is easy to think that you are the only progressive and more and more I was seeing that I was not.”

The rally will be “in solidarity with the strike and day’s events,” according to its Facebook event page. There will be a poster making station, speakers and music.

“We will join together with other women and our allies to request equity and human rights for all.”

Nationally, Wednesday events will involve women and allies acting together for “equality, justice and the human rights of women and all gender-oppressed people through a one-day demonstration of economic solidarity.” Some will take the day off from paid or unpaid labor, others will avoid shopping for the day unless it is at a small, woman- or minority-owned business and other supporters will wear red to show their solidarity.

At the march in Frankfort, more than 30 have confirmed their attendance with another 80 or so interested as of Tuesday morning.

“I am thrilled with the momentum for the event,” she said. “I wish I had thought of it sooner so that we could get even more people to participate.”

Biegel says it was not as difficult to get started as she initially believed.

“I picked up my phone and called the village to see what sort of red tape was involved in setting up a rally, protest or march, and to my surprise there was none,” she said.

It’s the latest of her activism during an extremely active time. She’s made postcards asking President Donald Trump to resign, has written senators and other political representatives and written letters of support to the JCCs, mosques and other institutions that have come under attack in recent weeks.

“The Democrats are showing up and showing out and letting our voices be heard,” she said. “The marginalizing and the bigotry won't win. Love and acceptance will.”

Photo courtesy of Emily Biegel