On Sounds Good with Tracy Ross, Sarah Gutwirth and Mary Tripp Reed discuss The March for Social Justice and Equality happening Saturday in Murray.
The marchis in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington. Gutwirth and Reed say they want to project a sense of strength and positivity. The group wrote a mission statement to express the purpose of the march:
“The March for Equality and Social Justice is a celebration of the principles of democracy, a demonstration of solidarity with the disenfranchised, and a demand of our government/leaders that they uphold the United States Constitution and be accountable to those principles of equality and justice for all.”
People will be able to march as individuals or behind banners representing groups such as Black Lives Matter and the National Organization for Women. The group will convene in the paved area between Murray State University’s Faculty Hall parking lot and the surrounding academic buildings. Marshals in lime-green vests will direct people. At 10:15 a.m., those gathered will march down Highway 94 to the Courthouse Square where there will be a rally from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The rally will begin with two musical performances by Fate McAfee and Melanie Davis. Speakers include Jeff Wiggins of the Western Kentucky AFL-CIO Area Council, Rev. Dr. Renee Meyer of Murray First Presbyterian Church, Brian Clardy of the MSU History department, and MaysoonSuleiman-Khatib, adjunct professor in the MSU Organizational Communications department.
“Clearly, we have a Muslim speaker, an African-American, someone from a church, and someone from labor,” Gutwirth said.
Gutwirth and Reed say the Murray Police Department, campus police, MSU President Bob Davies, and state were all very accommodating as they went through the process of organizing and obtaining permissions for the march.
“I know that this is in some sense about the election. But I feel like it’s also about civic pride and civic engagement and teaching people that there are differences of opinion in the public forum and that we need to be respectful and listen to each other, as Mary Tripp said, and hear each other and support each other,” Gutwirth said. “I hope that students come to the march. I feel like we are modeling civic engagement in a positive sense and that there is never anything wrong with being politically active, socially aware, expressing yourself in the public forum.”