“We out.” It’s not exactly what the letter says, but that’s the energy coming from several Black leaders and activists who have decided to boycott the Sacramento Women’s March for the “problematic” engagement with Black and Indigenous women.
Leaders sent out a letter late Thursday announcing a departure from participating in the march, held annually in January. The letter is signed by Leia Schenk, founder of EMPACT; Christi Ketchum and Dr. Flojaune Cofer of the Sacramento Sister Circle; Kula Koenig, founder of the Social Justice PolitiCorps for Sacramento County; Sonia Lewis, of Black Justice Sacramento and ASCRIBE Educational Consulting; Venetia James, founder of Hundreds Unit; Mersadez Hogan, former outreach director for the Sacramento Women’s March; student activist Aidan Willett; and Meg White and LaTanya Lyons of Justice Unites Individuals and Communities Everywhere (JUICE).
“We are busy doing important work in our community because we are under constant attacks trying to survive and thrive in a country plagued with racism, sexism, capitalism and attacks on our other intersectional identities,” reads the letter.
“As a collective, we will no longer spend our energy on the Sacramento Women’s March. Don’t call us. Don’t ask us. Lose our numbers and email addresses. Don’t slide into our DMs. We are done,” it continues.
The missive calls out the local march’s leader, Scarlotte Bustos, and demands she step down due to “manipulative and abusive” behavior. The local event is part of a larger national one and the letter is also addressed to national and state march organizers.
“The issues in Sacramento are but a microcosm of the structural racism and the devaluing of Black women and women of color in the Women’s March national organization,” the signees said.
The local organization Black Women United previously started a local march for similar reasons mentioned in the letter, but its leaders are not among the signees.
By Genoa Barrow | OBSERVER Senior Staff Writer