Groups to gather at WV Capitol for International Women's Day

The West Virginia Women’s Alliance, together with several other organizations including Women’s March WV, the ACLU, WV NOW, Fairness WV, WV Federation of Democratic Women, WV Free and Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, is hosting a rally and news conference at noon on the south steps of the Capitol.

The theme of the event is Equity, Empowerment and Action for Women in West Virginia. According to an email advertising the event, the rally is for gender equality, economic justice and “a future where all women and children thrive.”

Tiffany Gale, executive director of the WVWA, said this future looks like a place where “women are treated equally under the law” and where “a child born is also a child housed and a child fed and a child educated and loved and cared for.”

This legislative session the WVWA is fighting against the loosening of immunization restrictions and the deregulation of childcare, Gale said. They are also fighting for disability rights in West Virginia.

Planned speakers

As of Thursday, over 200 people have said they were going to the event, according to the event’s Facebook page.

There will be cookies, face painting and balloon twisting along with the news conference that will feature at least 11 speakers:

• Meghan Moses, WV Women’s Alliance
• Margaret Chapman Pomponio, WV FREE
• Isabelle Moore, Wood County Women’s Rights Alliance
• Dr. Dara Aliff, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, WV Section
• Advocacy Leader for the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair)
• A leader from Fairness WV
• Pam VanHorn, WV Federation of Democratic Women
• Emily Womeldorff, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic
• Robin Cutlip, WV Women’s March
• Megan Tarbett, WV Library Association
• Kristy Ritz, WV Association for Young Children

This is the first rally WVWA is putting on for International Women’s Day. Gale said she didn’t see any Charleston events marking the occasion.

“I thought we should probably be the organization putting on an event,” she said.

Gale said rallies like these are important to show that there is a community of supporters and that changes can be made together.

“I think a lot of people are feeling as if they are the only ones, and as if their voices are being silenced,” she said.

Gale emphasized that the rally will be peaceful with no toleration of hate and violence.

NOW event at Capitol Rotunda

After the rally, the West Virginia and Kanawha Valley National Organizations for Women are hosting an event on the first floor of the Capitol Rotunda from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

The event will honor the lives of recently deceased NOW members Sondra Lucht, former state senator, and Patricia White, former delegate and founder of Health Right.

The event will also feature a commentary on current federal policies and entertainment from Susan Marrash Minnerly, Rebecca Kimmons and Kate Long.

Those attending should enter on the west side of the Capitol. Drinks and snacks will be served.

Bettijane Burger, secretary of Kanawha Valley NOW, said this is the second annual event. Last year, people gathered at Taylor Books. The event honors the past while looking ahead, Burger said.

“[Women] have come a long way. In the old days, there were few women who were doctors or lawyers or even astronauts, and we’ve overcome those barriers,” she said. “But there’s been a patriarchal backlash ... We just have to keep fighting.”