Million Woman March

For the 2017 event, see 2017 Women's March.

The Million Woman March was a grassroots protest march for Black women in America that took place on October 25, 1997 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1][2][3] The event was organized by local store owner Phile Chionesu and public housing activist Asia Coney,[1][4] who worked independently of national organizations and spread awareness largely through the internet, flyers, local women's organizations, and word-of-mouth.[2][5]

The event drew between 500,000 and over two million people to Benjamin Franklin Parkway,[6][7][8] and is considered one of the largest demonstrations in American history.[2][6] The organizers' 12-point platform included demands for an end to homelessness; support for currently and formerly-incarcerated Black women; improvements to education, health care, poverty, and services fighting addiction; an independent investigation into allegations of CIA drug trafficking; and the release of political prisoners such as Mumia Abu-Jamal.[1][2][9][10][11][12]

  1. ^ a b c Fletcher, Michael A.; Brown, DeNeen L. (October 24, 1997). "Anticipation, Hopes Build For Million Woman March". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Campbell, Horace (1997). "The Million Woman March". Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity (35): 86–89. doi:10.2307/4066098. JSTOR 4066098. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  3. ^ Janofsky, Michael (October 26, 1997). "At Million Woman March, Focus Is on Family". The New York Times.
  4. ^ Oliver, Pamela (January 28, 2023). "Organizing the Million Woman March". Race, Politics, Justice. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Everett, Anna (2009). Digital Diaspora: A Race for Cyberspace. Albany: SUNY Press. pp. 49–78. ISBN 978-0-7914-7674-1. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Garfield, Leanna; Ettinger, Zoë (June 1, 2020). "14 of the biggest marches and protests in American history". Business Insider. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  7. ^ White, Deborah Gray; Bay, Mia; Martin, Waldo E. (2013). Freedom on My Mind. Bedford/St. Martin's. p. 746. ISBN 978-0-312-64884-8.
  8. ^ "Million Woman March fills Philadelphia streets". CNN. October 25, 1997. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  9. ^ "Crowds Gather in Philadelphia to Take Part in Million Woman March". LA Times. October 25, 1997. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  10. ^ Moorehead, Monica (November 6, 1997). "Million Women March: Black women seek unity". Workers World. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  11. ^ Janofsky, Michael (October 23, 1997). "Million Women March Is Set With High Hopes". The New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  12. ^ Fletcher, Michael A.; Brown, DeNeen L. (October 26, 1997). "We Are Countless In Unity". Washington Post. Retrieved October 25, 2023.