About 3,600 miles from Haines in Washington, D.C., throngs of people are expected to walk in the Women’s March on Washington Saturday. But a sister march in Haines will start only a few blocks from downtown.

The Women’s March – Haines, scheduled at 10 a.m. on Saturday to begin at the Chilkat Center, is one of more than 600 hundred events worldwide and 16 in Alaska that will walk in solidarity with participants in D.C., according to the Women’s March website.

The march is not a protest, but rather a display of strength behind positivity and equality. The organizers of the national march said, “Yes, it’s about feminism. But it’s about more than that: It’s about basic equality for all people,” and “We need to form a resistance movement that’s about what is positive. Something that will help empower us to wake up in the morning and feel that women still matter.”

The website lists the Women’s March mission, vision and principles that Haines will follow.

National guidelines for the women’s march include “promoting a tone of respect, honesty, transparency, and accountability and staying nonpartisan.”

Haines march organizer Margaret Friedenauer said in a Facebook event post, “We will use the Women’s March primarily to express our support for respect, love, women’s rights and human rights in our communities and the country, rather than to criticize politicians or political parties.”

“I always like to see Haines as well represented in the state and part of bigger discussions,” Friedenauer said.

She said keeping relevant conversations happening in town makes her feel less isolated.

Friedenauer posted on the Facebook event page, “Personally, I was motivated to organize a local march because I think we (and I do mean me as much as anyone) could use a reflection on constructive community dialogue, neighborly love and respectful communication even in times of disagreement.”

She admitted she was a little nervous to organize the event until she saw the march gaining momentum around the state and country. She said she thought Haines could get behind a movement that was nonpartisan and based in positivity.

As of Tuesday, more than 25 people said they would attend. Women and men are welcome and encouraged to make signs or download and print signs specifically designed for the women’s march free of charge.

Friedenauer said people can gather in the Chilkat Center lobby after the march for hot drinks and conversation.

The march route will likely stick to the sidewalks from the Chilkat Center to Second Avenue, up to Main Street, down along the harbor and back to the Chilkat Center.

Tracy and Lizi Wirak plan to attend the national Women’s March in Washington D.C. Haines People for Peace will host a presentation on Feb. 1 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the library where the Wirak’s will share “their experiences and insights” from the march.

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