Hartford City Councilwoman Wildaliz Bermudez told the crowd to turn around and look at the building across from the Connecticut State Capitol, just on the other side of Bushnell Park. This hotel is where several dozen families from Puerto Rico relocated following the September 2017 hurricane. They have been there through FEMA’s Transitional Shelter Assistance program. FEMA recently announced it was cutting off displaced American citizens, weeks earlier than promised. Mayor Bronin and Councilwoman Bermudez have condemned FEMA’s reversal.  Governor Malloy has promised to keep these families sheltered on the State’s dime in the meantime. Bermudez, in her speech, crystallized what may have been known only in the abstract — if at all — by many of the thousands attending this peaceful rally.

The Connecticut Women’s March aligned with the anniversary of 45’s inauguration. While the 2017 rally was heavy on fears imagined, Saturday’s protest called out this new administration’s actual actions. Linking the various forms of systemic oppression,  speakers and participants alike represented those in Greater Hartford and beyond, including a delightfully vocal contingent from CT Latinas in the Resistance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you participated in the Connecticut Women’s March on January 20, 2018, go on ahead and give a shout out to yourself (and any group you were with) in the comments here.