New group crusades for ‘Women’s March’ concerns in Utah; town hall meeting

The Women's March on Washington Cedar City group meets for the first time Feb. 11, 2017, to organize their official group, Cedar City, Utah, Feb. 11, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Tina Dickinson, St. George News / Cedar City News

CEDAR CITY – A Cedar City group plans to carry the message from last month’s “Women’s March on Washington,” held in the District of Columbia, to their own state and to national lawmakers in hopes of bringing about positive change starting in their own hometown.

The Women’s March on Washington Cedar City group announced Wednesday they will be sponsoring a public town hall meeting Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. at the Cedar City Public Library, 303 N. 100 East. The meeting will be held in the indoor patio area on the south side of the main room.

The group has invited congressional leaders Sen. Orrin Hatch, Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Chris Stewart. While organizers said they don’t expect them to attend, they are hopeful the lawmakers will send representatives from their respective offices.

Still – with or without them – the group plans to meet.

“Many of the congressional leaders aren’t coming home this recess so we will be holding the town hall meeting regardless of whether they’re there but we are hoping at least one shows up and if not that they send a representative,” Arlene Braithwaite said, a local artist and one of the organizers of WMW Cedar City. “We really want to have a positive meeting.”

There are similar town hall meetings being held throughout the country during this legislative recess. Many of these are being reported by the national media as being filled with constituents shouting down their lawmakers, demanding something be done about the Trump administration’s agenda and challenging the policies of the largely Republican Congress and the new president.

In contrast, WMW Cedar City wants to have a peaceful meeting where there is open and positive dialogue.

“The outcome of our town hall is intended to be different,” Dr. Briget Eastep, one of the group’s organizers, said, “and that the group does not want a raucous event.”

Hence, part of why they decided to hold it in the library.

“We decided to hold it in the library thinking that maybe that will help civil discourse and bring a peaceful environment,” Braithwaite said. “At least that’s what we’re hoping for. We want people to feel that they can express themselves and they can talk without voices raised and a fight breaking out.”

The Women’s March on Washington Cedar City group meets for the first time Feb. 11, 2017, to organize their official group, Cedar City, Utah, Feb. 11, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Tina Dickinson, St. George News / Cedar City News

The slated agenda includes an opportunity for the public to create videotapes and write letters documenting their concerns.

Constituents can bring their own issues or the group plans to have a list of issues they are concerned about including the environment, Utah’s national monuments, public lands, education, science and state bills and resolutions now going through Utah’s Legislature.

Representatives of the group plan to take the written letters and tape them together to deliver them in person to state legislators on the Hill. Copies of the letters and videos will be sent to congressional representatives.

“People want their voices heard. We are giving them that opportunity,” Braithwaite said. “At a near future date, we plan to take the information and present it at the Capitol by rolling the taped letters down the steps.”

The Women’s March on Washington Cedar City group currently has about 200 members. It was organized after last month’s march in D.C. and around the globe and has given many people in the community an opportunity to network with others who have similar political leanings, Braithwaite said.

The group advocates inclusion for all, diversity, the arts, science, public education, the environment, democracy, women’s rights and human rights.

Those interested in joining the group or seeking information on the town hall may email Emily Dean at: [email protected].

Event details

  • What: Women’s March on Washington Cedar City group town hall meeting.
  • When: Feb. 28, 2017, 7-9 p.m.
  • Where: Cedar City Public Library, 303 N. 100 East, Cedar City; the meeting will be held in the indoor patio area on the south side of the main room.
  • Cost: Free.

 Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @tracie_sullivan

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.

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16 Comments

  • Utahguns February 24, 2017 at 8:43 am

    “The group advocates inclusion for all, diversity, the arts, science, public education, the environment, democracy, women’s rights and human rights.”
    Really what are they saying?
    “Inclusion for all”…..is that doublespeak for supporting transgendered bathrooms as well?
    Does that also include the support for a free for all abortion program?
    Do they want more federal control of our lands?
    Obviously their picture with the “No Wall” poster reflects their liberal stance on illegal aliens.

    These leftist women’s groups (masquerading as social do-gooders) have been noted to shout down their lawmakers (as in the last Jason Chaffetz meeting in STG) demanding something be done about the Trump administration’s agenda (they still want Hillary) and challenging the policies of the largely Republican Congress and the new president.

    WMW Cedar City wants to have a peaceful meeting where there is open and positive dialogue therefore have it in a library? “We want people to feel that they can express themselves and they can talk without voices raised and a fight breaking out.”
    …….As we all know and have witnessed, fights and shout downs only break out when you have the radical left present. That’s their modus operandi.

    Folks, meet the forever evolving radical left coming to a neighborhood near you.

    • mesaman February 24, 2017 at 1:00 pm

      You said it correctly, UGuns, and I applaud you for taking the lead on this. The wailing women crusade does nothing to bring a “peaceful environment” to our community, much less a nation. Their goal seems to be “publicity”, not peace, and the rancor they have exhibited explains why they will not have the option of interacting with their lawfully elected representatives. So let them weep, wail, gnash their teeth, throw their childish tantrums, and escalate the gap between the winners and the losers. It is their angst and frustration that will consume them, but the government we elected will move forward, hopefully restoring the damage caused by the government they elected. Have they exerted even a minimal influence on the outcome of Trump’s tenure? NO!! Have they damaged their cause? YES!!

      • comments February 24, 2017 at 1:43 pm

        You and your generous publicly funded socialistic pension check every single month. Teaching a quack subject that isn’t even science and is part of “liberal arts”. You are the biggest welfare queen of all, Nolan. You should be ashamed of yourself. You are a mooch and a leach on the system and those of us that have to work for a living. You are a welfare queen and I’m tired of having to pay your way with my taxes. You belong in the Congo with the other leftists, Nolan.

        • ladybugavenger February 24, 2017 at 7:11 pm

          Don’t be jealous Bob, LOL!

          • comments February 25, 2017 at 4:11 pm

            LOL, it isn’t that I’m jealous. I’m just tired of paying for him. he’s a welfare queen

        • mesaman February 24, 2017 at 7:25 pm

          Try to get things straight, at least one time in your entire insipid life; you have never paid me one cent for my professional career. Did you understand that comment? As queen of the whiners you lead the way with your tantrums and bloviated diatribe. You call me a leftist because you don’t know the difference between a cow pie and nanny berries. Your logic is so entangled with feminine screams and childish frustration you can only be understood by a member of the Bammie corps or the Hildy coven. Do yourself and others a favor and migrate somewhere near DC.

          • comments February 25, 2017 at 4:10 pm

            You’ve spent most of your life working for the government and parasiting off my taxes. That money deposited into your bank account every month is you parasiting off the teat of an overly generous state gov’t and fully socialist pension system. You, Nolan, are the definition of a parasite. You are also a parasite on a fully socialist gov’t provided healthcare system. You are a parasite on a gov’t socialist system and everyone else pays your way. You can’t deny it. hahahahah

          • comments February 25, 2017 at 4:13 pm

            I guess the proper term is parasitizing, but I like parasiting. LOL

  • .... February 24, 2017 at 10:53 am

    Perfect ! Real Life will fit right in !

    • Real Life February 24, 2017 at 1:24 pm

      The meeting is 7-9 pm. Maybe you could set your alarm to get up and attend.

      • ladybugavenger February 24, 2017 at 7:12 pm

        HaHa!

      • .... February 25, 2017 at 1:29 am

        Whaaaaaaaaaa whaaaaaaaaaaa. LOL ! that’s all you got ? Better get some rest you must be exhausted after having a thought

  • Henry February 24, 2017 at 1:45 pm

    If the group can’t get any elected officials to attend, Misty Snow or Dorothy Engelman are probably available. (sarcasm)

  • .... February 25, 2017 at 1:32 am

    Oh don’t worry Real Life will be there

  • dodgers February 25, 2017 at 7:41 am

    Despite what they say, I’m betting it does turn into a scream fest……..and they’ll be kicked out the library.

  • desertgirl February 26, 2017 at 4:20 pm

    Another group of negative Nellies; they are victims and need to make others feel they are, also, victims. They’re main concerns start with how many abortions can taxpayers foot instead of expecting….wait, wait…..todays modern woman practicing birth control, not using abortion as a method of birth control. As a recovered liberal and former active Democrat party member I can tell you that groups like these are mean-spirited, foul-mouthed, and many are bigoted, racist liars pretending to be otherwise. The reason: they can’t get past not living without the (D) as part of their identity no matter what.

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