Day Without A Woman Strike: Some Schools Announce Closings, Demonstrations Planned

The Day Without a Woman General Strike, the second major demonstration of social activism organized by the group behind the Women's March on Washington, will take place on International Women's Day.

Anyone can participate in the strike Wednesday, March 8, by either taking the day off work, avoiding shopping for the day (except to support women- or minority-owned small businesses) or by wearing red in solidarity with the strike. Organizers even have a template women can give their employers to inform them they are participating in the strike.

In anticipating of the strike, some schools have announced they will be closed. Public schools in Alexandria, Virginia, announced they would be closed Wednesday after more than 300 staff members asked to take the day off. Schools in Prince George's County, Maryland, also announced late Wednesday they would be closed for the general strike. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools in North Carolina announced last week they would close for the general strike, again due to the overwhelming number of staff members who requested the day off.

Schools and businesses not closing for the strike are showing their support for women participating in the strike. In Washington's Georgetown neighborhood, Pizzeria Paradiso announced it will serve half the menu to symbolize the impact of a day "without approximately half of the world's population."

Many prominent women's websites, including Bustle and The Cut, plan on not publishing any new content on Wednesday.

The Day Without a Woman pulls its inspirations from similar strikes in recent weeks, such as the Yemeni Bodega Strike in New York City and the Day Without Immigrants strike that closed grocery stores, restaurants, construction companies and other businesses across the country.

In New York City, organizers have put together a gathering for a show of solidarity that begins at noon. Demonstrations have also been planned for other major cities. In Chicago, a protest on Tuesday served as a precursor to Wednesday's strike. Two demonstrations were also planned for the city on Wednesday. Another rally is planned in the nearby town of Frankfort, Illinois.

Meanwhile in Seattle, some have rolled their eyes at the fact that a man will be the key speaker at the city's women's day rally. New York Daily News columnist Shaun King — who chronicles police brutality issues — will speak at the Wednesday rally, along with notable women activists from the area.

Patch will update this report as we hear of more closings and ways institutions are showing their support for the general strike.

Image Credit: Brendan Krisel/Patch (Women's March in New York City Jan. 21)