<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><br><br><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:14pt"> <img src="cid:ii_1599486954242b30" alt="Inline image 1" style="margin-right:0px" width="375" height="247"></span><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b> Photo credit: Eliza Wiley, Independent Record</b><br></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><font size="4">Montana Supporters in Final Preparation for March in Solidarity</font></b><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><font size="4">With the Women’s March on Washington D.C.</font><span></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">A grassroots movement is continuing to build across
the State of Montana. Montanans from across the state are planning to unite and
march in Helena, Montana on Saturday, January 21, 2017 from noon to 3 pm. A national
march in Washington D.C., the Women’s March on Washington, is slated for the same
day. Montana, other states, and several countries are joining in the same call
for solidarity by marching on January 21. <span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">The Women’s March on Montana is non-partisan,
focusing on human rights for all, and is open men and women alike. It is
designed to shed light, not only on women’s issues, but on issues facing all
marginalized populations who are being targeted with human rights violations. The
Women’s March will send a unified message to the new Administration on its
first day in office, and to the world, that women’s rights are human rights. Organizers
believe the March will be a positive step towards unifying marginalized
communities including women, all immigrants regardless of status, Muslims and
those of diverse religious faiths, Native people, Black and Brown people,
people with disabilities, and survivors of sexual assault. Organizers are
placing a high priority on security and safety to ensure a peaceful march. <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;color:rgb(38,38,38)"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;color:rgb(38,38,38)"><i>“We hope to bring
people together after such a divisive election,” </i>says one of the event
organizers Deb O’Neill of Helena.<i> “The hope is that all will agree that everyone
deserves to be treated equally and with respect despite their gender, gender
expression, ethnicity, religion, sexual identity, economic status, immigration
status, age, or disability.”<span></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;color:rgb(38,38,38)"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;color:rgb(38,38,38)">Attendance is growing rapidly with approximately 2000 anticipated
to be marching and attending the rally following. Speakers include </span><span style="font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;color:black">First Lady Lisa Bullock and representatives
of organizations including the ACLU, Pride Foundation, Planned Parenthood, Montana
Human Rights Network, YWCA, and others. Additional sponsors and supporters
include the Montana Racial Equity Project, Indian Law Resource Center, Montana
Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, YWCA of Helena and Missoula,
and other organizations, businesses, and individuals. The Montana Women’s Chorus,
Oulakins, Chicks with Sticks Drum Corps, and Native American drummers will be
performing and participating in the rally.
<span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;color:black">March and rally information along with safety, parking, and
staging area information can be found at </span><a href="http://womensmarchmontana.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">womensmarchmontana.com</span></a><span style="font-family:"times new roman",serif">. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:helvetica,sans-serif">Buses have been coordinated statewide with groups
from Billings, the Bitterroot Valley, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, the
Highline, Kalispell, and Missoula attending the event. Other Montanans have
formed carpools and are driving individually to join. The Women’s March on
Montana began forming after one member initiated an exploratory Facebook page
on November 11<sup>th</sup>. Within 72 hours, the group expanded from 23
members to over 1,500. There are now over 2,600 members in the original
Facebook page with many regional pages now formed. The Women’s March on Montana
Event Facebook page can be found at: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/155258321610587/?ti=icl" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;color:rgb(45,68,134);text-decoration:none">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr>events/155258321610587/?ti=icl</span></a><span style="font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"><span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="color:rgb(22,25,31)">****<span style="font-size:14pt"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="color:rgb(22,25,31)"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">MEDIA CONTACT: Deb O’Neill, <b><a href="tel:(307)%20231-3881" target="_blank">307-231-3881</a>, </b><a href="mailto:montana@womensmarch.com" target="_blank">montana@<wbr>womensmarch.com</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b></b></p><div><br></div></div>
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