Voices from the 2019 Seattle Womxn’s March
The Seattle Womxn’s March, now in its third year, has come and gone. But the voices from the rally linger in these speeches.
Themes included healing and thriving, peace through justice and local calls to action. The speakers addressed building community, not walls, the distinction between being an ally and an accomplice, the question of who makes history and what it means to make America great again.
“Too many of us have fallen for anything longing for the good old days, even though the good old days were racist, were transphobic, were sexist and misogynist, were classist and homophobic,” said Dr. Rev. Kelle Brown.
The program included the following speakers and performers:
- Colleen Echohawk, Executive Director of Chief Seattle Club
- Monserrat Padilla, Coordinator with the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network
- Rev. Bianca Lovelace, Washington Poor People’s Campaign
- ChrisTiana Obey Sumner, Seattle Disability Commission
- Hanan Hassan, poet
- Cinthia Vazquez, Washington Dream Coalition
- Dr. Rev. Kelle Brown, Lead Pastor, Plymouth Church Seattle
- The Muckleshoot Canoe Family led the opening Land Blessing (in the full version)
- The Blackfeet Tribe Crazy Dogs Society Blessing (in the full version)
Seattle Womxn Marching Forward organized the third annual Seattle Womxn’s March, in solidarity with the national Women’s March on Washington, D.C., on January 19 at Cal Anderson Park.
Please note: This recording contains one unedited word of an adult nature.
Listen to the full versions below:
2019 Seattle Womxn's March
Full version of the rally before the 2019 Seattle Womxn's March
The following poem was performed by Hanan Hassan at the 2019 Womxn's March.
Hassan says the poem is inspired by the Nigerian poet, novelist, and critic Chinua Achebe. He once said, "Until the lions have their historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter."
"This quote resonates with me as a young Somali woman in America," said Hassan.
Through her written work, Hassan says she dares to "speak up" for people who do not have the privilege to do so themselves.
Listen and enjoy the poet's transcript below:
Historian for the Hunted
I dare to speak up for the ones who are silent
The perished
The dead
Who were taken by violence
By hatred so evil It sets off the sirens
In hearts of the many
Affected by climate
Imposed by the powers
Want life for us, gory
Oppress us & kill us
Then rewrite our stories
Use ignorant persons
To push their agendas
Then blame them
Condemn them
Say it’s their dilemma
Real narratives living
On tongues of the spared
So shook they stay quiet
They bury despair
Their silence a guise
That shields them from torture
But the truth beats them harder
Than any enforcer
It crawls up their throats
In the night as they sleep
Wake up soaked in fear
And they weep, and they weep
I will speak for the silent
For the quiet & meek
For lions without historians
When their time is most bleak
I will speak for the mothers
Whose children are deep
Six feet under earth
Their hearts aching in grief
I will speak for Aleppo
For Flint
For Treyvon
I will speak up for Hamza
And baby Aylan
I will speak up for Deah Yusor & Razan
I will speak for Ciara
Those who’ve done nothing wrong
I will speak for those sinking
In deep seas of sorrows
Holding hope in their palm
For a brighter tomorrow
It is they who push me
To be great
To be proud
I will speak for them loud
No guise and no shroud
I will speak, I will speak
‘Til I can’t speak no more
And when that day comes
Some must take up the chore
Show them to be louder
Teach the children their voice
Of resilience is power
Tell them all to make noise
They must speak for the silent
There is no other choice
They must fall on all ears
Then one day we’ll rejoice
In a land known as paradise
Prepped for arrival
Of those who have fought
For what’s right
What is vital
For humanity
Love
For what makes us all great
On that day we will rest
No more pain
No more hate