On Jan. 21, people from around the nation, including Mercyhurst students, will gather to march on Washington D.C.

“Those participating are striving to promote equality and tolerance particularly for the LGBTQIA community, racial minorities, indigenous people, the economically disadvantaged, people with disabilities, religious and spiritual diversity, people with immigrant status, and those affected by the criminal justice system,” Holly Donlin-Smith, organizer of the Mercyhurst group, said.

The march is being organized due to the recent election and some of the comments made during the primaries. Bob Bland, CEO and founder of Manufacture New York, Linda Sarsour, award winning Palestinian-American-Muslim racial justice and civil rights activist, Carmen Perez, executive director of The Gathering for Justice and Tamika Mallory, founder of Mallory Consulting are the co-founders of the national Women’s March on Washington committee. These four women are in charge of organizing the march on Washington D.C.

“The rhetoric of the past election cycle has insulted, demonized, and threatened many of us–women, immigrants of all statuses, those with diverse religious faiths particularly Muslim, people who identify as LGBTQIA, Native and Indigenous people, black and brown people, people with disabilities, the economically impoverished and survivors of sexual assault,” the website said. “We are confronted with the question of how to move forward in the face of national and international concern and fear.”

Mercyhurst students are looking to take action and participate in the march. There is a tour bus that will leave from Mercyhurst for D.C. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For those wishing to participate through Mercyhurst, a bus will be leaving on Jan. 21. The cost of the trip through Mercyhurst will be determined by the number of students who wish to participate and also on what mode of transportation is taken. If interested, contact Donlin-Smith at hdonli51@lakers.mercyhurst.edu. Seats are limited.