NEW HAVEN, Conn. — For the Connecticut chapter of the National Organization for Women, last Thursday night was a sign of the times.
The women and men making protest signs at the New Haven Free Public Library gathered in solidarity to prepare for the Women’s March on Washington on Jan. 21. There also will be marches in Hartford and Stamford that Saturday.
It will be one day after Donald Trump is inaugurated president, an event that those who got together Thursday said they had a hard time accepting.
“I’m furious at the disrespect, not only to women but to everyone,” said Barbara Paight of Milford. “I am just furious that we elected a man that degrades people, that talks down to people. I’m a ball of emotions right now, none of them good.”
Many of the women and men creating signs to bring to one of the marches were concerned about women’s issues such as reproductive rights and defending Planned Parenthood, and they were angry about a lot more.
“I just feel like it’s really important, given the upcoming administration, to make it clear that the majority out there (supports) women’s rights, refugees’ rights, immigrant rights, rights for gays, lesbians, transgenders, queers,” said Christine Ruman of West Haven. “To be American is to be inclusive and to hold up everyone that lives here.”
For some, the protest is personal.
“I got out of college and I was told by my boss that ‘this isn’t a job for a woman,”‘ said Mina Becker of Milford. The job was handling workers’ compensation claims, and Becker sees the same attitude in the president-elect.
“Nobody is exempt from his attacks unless you’re a white, wealthy man,” she said.
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