People march for gender equality

Havre residents braved icy sidewalks to take part in A Women's March in Havre and hear from a group of local speakers about the need for gender equality.  

The march coincided with several other events this weekend that drew large crowds throughout the U.S. and around the globe.  

In all, about 30 people met on Town Square at noon, before walking up First Street to First Ave. West, and crossing First Street. Marchers then headed back to Town Square. Marchers sported signs with slogans like "My clothes do not determine my consent" and "voting is my superpower" as they walked along the route and people driving by honked their horns.

"We march today in solidarity with the thousands of women and allies who marched yesterday throughout our nation," said Stacey Siebrasse, an ordained minister with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and one of the speakers at the march.

"We march as varying and concerned individuals who refuse to give into looming narratives that espouse hate, divisions and inequalities in our communities, country and world," she continued.

Shelly Green, organizer of the march, said before the participants left Town Square, that she organized the event at the last minute. She said that initially she could not decide whether or not to have a march in Havre.

But in the end, Green said, she felt the march needed to happen, after a year when allegations of sexual misconduct were leveled against powerful men and the #MeToo movement sparked a national dialogue about sexual harassment.

"It's not just celebrities that are affected by things like domestic violence and workplace transgressions, it's people of all income levels," Green said."So I think it is important for Havre to see this, to see that people do care about these causes in everyday life."  

Green said the march is something she hopes becomes an annual event.

Though the marches happened on the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration, Green said she did not want the event to be about politics.

"I am sure there are people who definitely feel offended by some of Trump's comments. but for me, I wanted this to be about bringing the community together regardless of political association," Green said.

Pastor Tanner Howard of the First Lutheran Church said to the crowd that when he was asked to be one of the event's speakers, he was reluctant at first. He said that in recent years he has learned that as a man he should "shut up and listen" more.

Women, Howard said, are an instrumental part of his church and without their contributions, it would probably cease to exist.

However, he said, his profession has not always been kind to women, and there is still progress that needs to be made.

"I know that our church like our society has a long way yet to go, which is why I am truly grateful to be here with you today," he said.

He added that the women's marches and the #MeToo movement is changing lives.

"It is shedding light on the violence and oppression that for so long has been part and parcel of people's lives, especially women's lives," he said. "This conversation is changing, policies are changing, you are changing people's lives and I am grateful to witness and work with you in that."

Havre City Council Member Lindsey Ratliff told the crowd that women too are sometimes guilty of feeding into society's misogynistic tendencies, such as when they call each other sexually shaming names or suggest a woman got a job because of her sexuality.

She said it is through working together that change can come about.

"When we uplift each other rather than chastise and degrade, we create a climate of affirmation and encouragement that can only lead to positive change," Ratliff said. "A strong woman stands up for herself, but a stronger woman stands up for others."