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:

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