A sea of pink hats will once aÂgain deÂscend on the State Capitol on SatÂurÂday as MinÂneÂsoÂtans gather to proÂmote eÂqual rights and proÂgresÂsive causÂes at the third annuÂal Women's March.
The Minnesota rally, part of a naÂtionÂal "Women's Wave" day of acÂtion, comes at a time of fresh scruÂtiÂny for the moveÂment, which sprung up in reÂsponse to PresÂiÂdent DonÂald Trump's eÂlecÂtion.
Women's March Inc., the nonprofit spearÂheadÂing the naÂtionÂal moveÂment, is weathering critÂiÂcism amid claims of misÂmanÂageÂment and that several of its high-proÂfile co-chairs have exÂpressÂed or enÂdorsed anti-SeÂmitÂic views.
Some local activists want Women's March MinÂneÂsoÂta to conÂdemn the leaders or ofÂfiÂcialÂly sever ties with the naÂtionÂal arm, as more than a dozÂen local chapÂters have done. The controversy is already dampening enthusiasm among some past supporters.
SuÂsan Minsberg said the 2017 march inÂspired her to go beÂyond her own poÂlitÂiÂcal acÂtivÂism. But she is sitting out this year afÂter watchÂing a segÂment on "The View" in which naÂtionÂal Women's March co-President Tamika Mallory deÂclined to conÂdemn past hateÂful reÂmarks by NaÂtion of Islam founder Louis Farrakhan.
"I think we need to call her out, but they won't call her out," said Minsberg, who is JewÂish. "They say it's not our job, but whose job is it?"
OrÂganÂizÂers of this year's MinÂneÂsoÂta march, which is coÂorÂdiÂnatÂed by a local nonÂprofÂit that opÂerÂates inÂdeÂpendÂentÂly of the naÂtionÂal group, say they reÂmain foÂcused on "celeÂbratÂing women's leadÂerÂship and the sucÂcess of getÂting women electÂed" in 2019.
"We're buildÂing on that moÂmenÂtum and comÂmuniÂty spirÂit from when evÂerÂyÂone [first] came toÂgether," said Jammi HanÂsen Blair, chairwoman of Women's March MinÂneÂsoÂta. "We reÂalÂly think that we have been part of this broadÂer moveÂment in getÂting peoÂple more acÂtive and parÂticiÂpatÂing in their govÂernÂment."
The first Women's March, held the day afÂter Trump's inÂauÂguÂraÂtion, inÂspired a wave of poÂlitÂiÂcal acÂtivÂism and enÂerÂgy aÂmong feÂmale canÂdiÂdates and voters on the left. Millions turned out for marchÂes across the counÂtry, makÂing the 2017 gathÂerÂing one of the largÂest proÂtests in U.S. hisÂtoÂry. But the recent conÂtroÂverÂsy has dominated in the weeks leadÂing up to the marchÂes.
PromiÂnent formÂer backÂers, inÂcludÂing the Democratic National Committee, the Southern PovÂerÂty Law Center and EMILY's List, severed ties with the naÂtionÂal march.
Locally, high-proÂfile groups inÂcludÂing Education MinÂneÂsoÂta, NAACP Minneapolis and the local Planned ParÂentÂhood chapÂter reÂmain as sponÂsors.
This year's event will lack some of the political firepower of past marches.
Just one memÂber of the state's conÂgresÂsionÂal delÂeÂgaÂtion, Rep. Ilhan Omar, is schedÂuled to adÂdress the crowd. Staff for sevÂerÂal othÂer Democratic ofÂfiÂcials, inÂcludÂing U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Lt. Gov. PegÂgy FlanÂaÂgan and House Speaker MeÂlisÂsa Hortman, said they will be on the Iron Range attending the funeral for former DFL legislator Tom Rukavina.
HanÂsen Blair is trying to distance the local march from the national controversy, sayÂing local leadÂers are "disÂapÂpointÂed that these conÂverÂsaÂtions have takÂen away from the imÂportÂant work that's beÂing done." She addÂed that local leadÂerÂship will "be re-evÂaluÂatÂing who we are afÂfiliÂatÂed with" movÂing forÂward but did not proÂvide a timeline. The chapter has also issued several statements condemning bigoted and hateful speech.
RaÂchael JoÂseph, an adÂvoÂcate for gun viÂoÂlence surÂvivÂors, said that as a JewÂish woman, she deÂcidÂed to atÂtend this year's march afÂter conÂverÂsations with local acÂtivÂists.
"What I apÂpreÂciÂate the most is they are willÂing to have the diaÂlogue," said JoÂseph of MinÂneÂapÂolis. "They emÂbrace disÂsentÂing voicÂes, hear peoÂple out and they grow and change from that."
But some Republicans say local organizers are not seizing the moment to express opposition to anti-Semitic views.
"It's deepÂly conÂcernÂing the MinÂneÂsoÂta Women's March reÂfuses to deÂnounce the obÂviÂousÂly anti-SeÂmitÂic naÂtionÂal Women's March Inc. and is still afÂfiliÂatÂed with this racÂist orÂganÂiÂzaÂtion," said Sen. MiÂchelle Benson, R-Ham Lake.
HanÂsen Blair urged current and former supporters to embrace the larger mission. "UnÂless we reÂalÂly do come toÂgether, real change doesn't get made," she said.
Torey Van Oot • 651-925-5049