Pro-life feminists booted from Women’s March sponsorship

Last updated on: January 17, 2017 at 11:10 pm by CNA Daily News

Pro-life feminists booted from Women’s March sponsorship 2017-01-17T23:10:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Jan 17, 2017 / 04:10 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pro-life feminist organization New Wave Feminists has been removed from the official list of sponsors of the Women’s March on Washington 2017. Support of abortion as a fundamental principle of the upcoming January march has been cited as grounds.

“I can only assume it’s because there was a lot of pressure not to affiliate with pro-lifers, which is unfortunate,” Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa, president of New Wave Feminists, said about the decision.

In a Jan. 16 video statement on Facebook, Herndon-De La Rosa explained that they had been removed, speculating it was because of negative media backlash after an article on their participation appeared in The Atlantic. The feminist protest had previously listed New Wave Feminists as a partner, but by Monday afternoon had removed links to the Texan pro-life group from the event’s website.

Earlier that day, The Atlantic featured a piece on pro-life participants in the Women’s March on Washington, highlighting New Wave Feminists as well as several other pro-life groups’ decision to participate in the march. The pro-life organization's decision attracted attention after the Women’s March released a list of guiding principles in early January – which included “open access to safe, legal, affordable abortion and birth control for all people.”

According to The Atlantic, organizers do not see the march specifically as an anti-Trump protest. But the date of the protest – the day after Donald Trump's presidential inauguration – is meant to “send a bold message” Women’s March co-chair Bob Bland told the Atlantic. Bland continued, saying the march is meant to support a wide variety of people, but particularly those criticized during the 2016 election cycle. “We’re marching to say that we support them, and all women,” Bland told The Atlantic.

The march is expected to draw between several thousand to as many as several hundred thousand participants from around the country.

More than 100 organizations, including including pro-abortion organizations such as Planned Parenthood, have applied for “partnership” in supporting the March

Bland told The Atlantic that including Planned Parenthood “was a no-brainer for us” because of their support of the Affordable Care Act. Furthermore, Bland stated, “one of the challenges facing women in this incoming administration is access to reproductive care.”

Before rescinding New Wave Feminists’ partnership, Bland told The Atlantic that women of all beliefs and backgrounds were welcome, particularly “voices that have previously been either marginalized or silenced.” She told the publication that the intersectional nature of the event and inclusion of different perspectives on feminism was valuable and the “future” of the feminist movement “We must not just talk about feminism as one issue, like access to reproductive care.”

After revoking New Wave Feminists’ partnership, the Women’s March issued a statement saying that the event it pro-abortion and that the organizers “look forward to marching on behalf of individuals who share the view that women have the right to make their own reproductive choices.”

“The anti-choice organization in question is not a partner of the Women's March on Washington. We apologize for this error,” the statement added.

The removal of New Wave Feminist’s partnership status, while disappointing, Herndon-De La Rosa said, will not her or the organization’s decision to join the March. The Women’s March’s decision does not change either their pro-life beliefs nor their identification as feminists. “We will be there whether we are official partners or not.”

Previous Post

January 17, 2017

Dominicans celebrate 800 years with reflection, prayer

Next Post

January 17, 2017 EWTN to launch new weekly pro-life show

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Christian group traditionally avoids military service?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Methodists Evangelicals Quakers Pentecostals