Illinois Women to March on Springfield for Progressive Agenda and Responsible Budget

Women and their allies from across Illinois are expected to join forces to push for a responsible budget and progressive agenda of bills in Springfield Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Individuals representing a wide range of issues and more than 50 organizations will march around the state capitol and lobby for legislation.

The list of bills people can choose to lobby state reps and senators on include women's health and choice, labor issues including the Fight for $15, immigration, homelessness, criminal legal reform, the environment, LGBTQ, gun safety efforts, economics, education, the ERA and passing a responsible budget in Illinois.

More than 30 elected officials have also signed on to support the march, and some of them will be addressing the crowd at the Noon rally at the Lincoln Statue in front of the Capitol Building April 25. Other speakers will include those most impacted by the delayed budget and proposed legislation in Springfield.

The complete agenda, with more bills expected, is available on the March website: http://www.illinoiswomenmarchonspringfield.org.

"This march represents a huge, intersectional slate of issues," said organizers. "While many groups have their own individual agendas, this is an effort to build bridges and lobby across interest lines. Together we are more powerful."

Illinois Women March on Springfield is co-chaired by Jaquie Algee (SEIU Healthcare and Women's March on Chicago); Tracy Baim (Windy City Times and Pride Action Tank); Jennifer Camille Lee (Action Illinois and Women Rising-Illinois); and Jessica Scheller (Women's March on Chicago).

The program will start at noon with a rally in front of the Lincoln Statue at the Capitol Building, followed by a march around the capitol complex, and lobbying elected officials inside. At 2:30 p.m., there will be a final rally in the rotunda, including next steps on organizing support for the legislation still pending in Springfield. People are encouraged to make April 25 appointments now with their representatives and senators, and lobby for legislation from now until the end of May, when this session ends.

Available on site April 25 will be thousands of pink post cards, which individuals can use to send or drop off a message to their elected officials on legislation they support. The website has printable and shareable post cards and social media, so people can lobby in advance for bills.

The website also has a process where organizations and elected officials can join the effort. The site also has transportation suggestions, and legislative tips.

The Champion partners of the march are: Action Illinois, Alphawood Foundation, Chicago Foundation for Women, Crossroads Fund, Indivisible Illinois, Pride Action Tank, SEIU-Healthcare IL and IN, Windy City Times, Women's March on Chicago, Women Rising - Illinois.

Other partners for the March include the Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, Illinois NOW, CAIR-Chicago, Chicago Women Take Action, Chicago Teachers Union, Equality Illinois, Amalgamated Transit Union 308 (ATU), AFSCME, G-PAC, Citizen Action, OFA, Mujeras Latinas en Accion, Fight for $15 Chicago, National Immigrant Justice Center, Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, Women Employed, Women's March Illinois, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Lambda Legal, and the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago. See many more online.

Website: http://www.illinoiswomenmarchonspringfield.org/ .

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Illinois-Women-March-on-Springfield-1293918460687078/ .

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1411568288899392/

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