Women's March targets National Rifle Association

By Nisa Islam Muhammad -Staff Writer- | Last updated: Jul 18, 2017 - 4:37:05 PM

Demonstrators targeted the NRA during a weekend march and rally. Photo: Nisa Islam Muhammad

WASHINGTON—The Women’s March set their sights on the National Rifle Association with a two-day march and rally that included a 17-mile march in the heat of the day from National Rifle Association headquarters to the Department of Justice in downtown D.C. and a Saturday morning rally.

The protest was motivated by the NRA’s silence after the acquittal of the Minnesota police officer who shot Philando Castile, a legal gun owner, even though he told the police officer he had a licensed fire arm. Critics wondered if the NRA only supported White gun owners?

Screen shot of tweet showing march organizers and activists Tamika Mallory (far left), Carmen Perez (second from right) and Linda Sarsour (far right).

The Women’s Movement was also incensed by an NRA ad narrated by spokeswoman, Dana Loesch. She charged protesters “bully and terrorize the law-abiding until the only option left is for the police to do their jobs and stop the madness.” Another video she issued attacked Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan and three Women’s March co-founders.

The Women’s March organizers wanted the initial ad removed, charging it incited violence. Women’s March co-founder Tamika Mallory wrote a letter to NRA Vice President Wayne LaPierre asking him to take it down. He responded with another video, telling critics to “grow up” and stop the protests.

“We are not trying to stop gun ownership,” Carmen Perez, Women’s March co-founder, said at the rally outside the NRA. “We are trying to stop the violence that comes with it.”

“Gun violence is an issue that really impacts all of our communities regardless of our religious backgrounds,” Women’s March co-founder Linda Sarsour told The Final Call. “We know that one third of our community is African American often times growing up in South Side of Chicago or central Brooklyn. They too are impacted by this issue. We may not always know they are Muslims but we know this is an issue that impacts them as well. This is not just about gun violence, all violence, domestic violence. We have to connect the dots.”

“We are here today because we have connected the dots between those that talk about the second amendment right but are in fact hypocrites because the second amendment rights of Black people have never been upheld including the case of Philando Castile and also Muslims watching the NRA ads that are literally saying to go after those that are fighting for their rights which are Muslims, Blacks and women. We have to fight back and this is what our Islam teaches us.”

On both days the peaceful protestors were met with counter protesters. On Friday, July 14, the counter protestors lined the street with large guns and rifles. “It was a clear sign of intimidation,” Aishah Muhammad told The Final Call. “They just stood there with these big guns and what for?”

On Saturday, July 15, the counter protesters stood across the street from the Justice Dept. while the Women’s Movement rallied.

Participants marched from NRA headquarters to the Department of Justice. Photos: Nisa Islam Muhammad

“I support both the first and the second amendment,” a counter protestor told The Final Call. “Obviously we support the right to keep and bear arms and we also support the right of free speech. The other side is trying to restrict free speech.”

“So I support the entire Constitution and the entire bill of rights. They think the NRA should take the ad down and we think it’s accurate and truthful. Fortunately we live in a country where we can put things like that up. We want to keep living in a country like that.”

The women’s protest, which featured a variety of speakers including former NAACP President Rev. Cornell Brooks, was significantly smaller than the Women’s March on Washington in January, which saw hundreds of thousands of women come out all across the world.

What’s next for this group?

“We are still looking at creating entry points for people to get involved in the movement,” Ms. Perez told The Final Call. “Right now we are looking at sustaining the work through a 501C4 so we can do political action work. What you see right now is our short term goals, a lot of us come with different expectations as a women’s march, to lend our voices to issues that impact our community.”

“Gun violence is an issue we’ve been working on, along with police brutality and incarceration. Also there are certain things that are happening right now as we are standing here like immigration reform, also the health care bill. A lot of the women that are coming together are combining our efforts, and really thinking about intersectionality in very intentional ways.”

She added, “So for us, we continue to put pressure and continue to bring awareness and create entry points so that all women can get involved.”

The Final Call