January 10, 2018
The 2018 March to the Polls will take place at First Congregational Church, January 20, 10am-12pm. The rally is an extension of last year’s women’s marches held around the country and in Memphis and will be a speaker’s forum and rally for the 2018 mid-term elections held in solidarity with the national March on the Polls.
Organized by a group of local volunteers, the rally will begin at 10am with a slate of speakers who are running in local, state, and national elections. Attendees will also be able to register to vote and visit booths sponsored by local, progressive groups.
Event co-organizer Sondra Tucker said the rally continues to build on the interest from last year’s Women’s March that attracted more than 9,000 peaceful demonstrators to downtown Memphis. This year the theme of the event again is unity but the focus will be on participating in voting and elections in the mid-term 2018 races.
“This is a chance for folks to take their interest in governing and politics to the next level– to see many of the candidates running in different races in Memphis from local school board, county commission, and county mayor to Congressional races. This year’s rally is not only a chance for people of all genders, races, and nationalities to come together, but also to realize how to participate in the election process and show that Memphis continues to have a strong part to play in the national conversation,” said Tucker.
“I am excited to see us collectively build on the momentum of 2017, which brought awareness and change to Memphis when everyday people used their voices to fight. This rally is a way to keep that momentum going as we face a long stretch of elections that will either result in continued change or keep us in the shadow of the status quo. The future is female,” said Tami Sawyer, another co-organizer, Memphis activist, and candidate for District 7, Shelby County Commission, “and I am proud of every woman in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee and the United States who is brave enough to step up and say time’s up, I’m running for office.”
“This past year has shown that we voters can make a difference, from protesting in the streets to calling and writing our representatives. Our rally aims to showcase our next steps – electing our progressive, forward-thinking candidates — and connect participants to involvement in that process,” said Tricia Dewey, a co-organizer. “We are hoping for participation from across the city and want this event to highlight the many strides we have already made in our year of participating. We are looking to mobilize people to elect candidates who support civil rights, environmental protections, LGBTQ rights, poverty issues, and the freedoms that make America great.”
The group has set up a Facebook page for the event, March on the Polls 2018 http://www.facebook.com/memphiswomensmarch, which has more than 600 people interested.
Tucker noted that interest in the event is again spreading through word of mouth. “We would love to have another round of sign-painting parties. Please bring your creative, G-rated signs again this year. We must continue to have our voices heard.”
