Women’s March continued as allies break ties

Good ideas and good intentions from the left continues to head toward self-destruction.

By Solomon Smith, Political News Editor

This year’s Los Angeles Women’s March theme is “truth to power” but the unofficial theme is one of division.

Claims of anti-Semitism and homophobia have created a deep wound in the movement and led to the Los Angeles Women’s March splintering off from the main march and disavowing them on their website.

“For deeper clarity and understanding, WMLA and Women’s March Inc. are separate organizations,” reads a message from the Women’s March LA Team. “We believe our diversity makes us stronger and do not tolerate any kind of hate speech, bigotry, homophobia, Islamophobia, transphobia or any other form of hatred.”

Tamika Mallory, one of the co-founders of the movement was recently accused of anti-Semitic sentiments in her support of Luis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, who is well known for anti-Jewish and homophobic comments. After a post to Instagram which showed her wishing Farrakhan a happy birthday.

“Thank God this man is still alive and doing well,” Tweeted Mallory. “He is definitely the GOAT [greatest of all time].”

The organization tried to repair their image with an appearance by Mallory on The View and an op-ed on News One. On The View, she refused to denounce Farrakhan but stated clearly that her movement does not condone any type of hatred and explained why she would not condemn Farrakhan.

“I’m not calling him the greatest of all time because of his rhetoric, I’m calling him the greatest of all time because of what he has done for the black community,” said Mallory.

Some of the major supporters were still not satisfied with the effort and decided to pull out. The Democratic Party have removed their support, and many celebrities have stated their disappointment.

Many supporters have pointed out that she is being held to a different standard even after she has openly stated that her movement is one of inclusivity. A letter of support was sent to The Root which showed for Mallory and was posted on Twitter

“Tamika’s life’s work embodies the guiding values and underlying principles of the Women’s March,” said the letter.

With the movement occurring in many major cities around the world, the fragmented and decentralized nature of the march lends itself to dissent.

Each city has its own organizer while the main march itself continues on the east coast in Washington, D.C., starting at Freedom Plaza and ending on Pennsylvania Avenue, according to a map of the route on their website.

While the march continued as a splintered movement, some wonder if it will have the ability to reunite or how this separation will affect it going forward.