The Herald’s Saturday editorial (“
Media outlets have noted that Tamika Mallory, the co-president of the Women’s March, was present at a speech Farrakhan gave before the Nation of Islam where he made appalling anti-Semitic comments, but this should not discredit the accomplishments of the Women’s March.
Mallory is apparently an admirer of Farrakhan because of his group’s history of providing services like child care centers in underserved black communities where these services are badly needed – not because of his unacceptable anti-Semitic statements.
Mallory has tweeted she is “against all forms of racism. I am committed to ending anti-black racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia and transphobia.” The Women’s March has itself issued a statement: “The world Women’s March seeks to build is one free from anti-Semitism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, racism, and all forms of social violence.”
The Women’s March has always been controversial, but its impact is profound: It has helped to usher in a wave of winning women candidates and popularized the truth that women’s equality is interconnected with justice and equality for other marginalized groups. It has changed the face of our political representation for the good.
Carol Cure
Durango
(The writer is a vice-chairwoman of La Plata County Democrats.)
