On Saturday, April 28th, 2012, from 2PM to 6PM, women & men from all over the state of will come together on the steps of the historic Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery to protest the “War on Women” waged upon us by politicians who think they are gynecologists. Recording artist and songwriter Kathryn Scheldt will be providing entertainment for the event, and our speakers will be:
Melinda Maddox, Candidate for Alabama Supreme Court
Allison Neal, American Civil Liberties Union
Allyn Hudson, Occupy Birmingham
Ilene Sparks, Veteran Women’s Rights Activist
Raychel Crice, New Generation Feminist
Doris Crenshaw, Southern Youth Leadership Development Institute
Clete Wetli, Chairman – Madison County Democratic Party
Hank Sanders, Alabama Senator
Laura Secord, Activist and poet
James Robinson, GLBT Advocacy and Youth Services
Tori Smith, Activist and Women’s Clinic Escort
Linda Coleman, Alabama State Senator
LaShon White Menefee, Planned Parenthood
Milly Keenamer Breeden, Republican Women’s Rights Activist
David Gesspass, National Lawyers Guild
Sharon M. Price, Women’s Rights Activist
Julie Ann Seals, Women’s Rights Activist
Charles Raymond Miller, Secular Coalition for Alabama
Dr. Pippa Abston, Huntsville Pediatrician
Lecia Brooks, Southern Poverty Law Center
Christie Swords, Women’s Rights Activist
Charlie Holley, Candidate for Congress, 5th District of Alabama
Ree Adcock Gustin, Women’s Rights Activist
We will also have people from Moveon.org/Alabama, The Birmingham Peace Project, the National Lawyers Guild, and the National Organization of Women joining us.
Please bring your own water, snacks, umbrellas for shade, portable chairs, ect as we will not have it available unless it is a medical emergency. Nurses & trained medical people will be on site if needed.
If you are coming from out of town, here is a Google Map link to the area around the State Capitol that has Street View.
Helpful tips from a Montgomery resident with pictures for reference:
If you have problems walking or with mobility, I highly suggest parking on N. Bainbridge. This is the street that runs directly in front of the capitol steps. If you can’t get a spot there, try Washington Avenue, where the circle of flags are – here’s a pic for reference:
The "Circle of Flags" area (to the right side of the capitol grounds), looking from Washington Avenue. There's a huge greenery garden in the shape of a star (you can see it below) with a big giant bell behind it, you can't miss it.
This is the view from the "Circle of Flags" looking towards Washington Avenue. The building in the background is the Alabama Department of Archives & History Building. Lots of flat parking.
This is looking from the capitol grounds down to Monroe Street & The Alabama Industrial Relations Building (left side of the capitol). As you can see, there is flat parking, but there are steps up to the capitol.
This North Union Street, which runs behind the capitol - it's easy to spot with the Alabama State House right there. Also offers flat parking, but a small/stair/hill climb is necessary to get to the capitol grounds.
- Don’t worry about feeding parking meters, the Montgomery Police Department does not enforce meters on the weekends.
- The weather is supposed to be sunny & quite warm. Check the weather forecast for Montgomery on Saturday here. Bring sunscreen and dress appropriately. Portable chairs would also be great to bring, along with umbrellas for shade.
- Please respect our beautiful capitol grounds (and the unpaid cleanup volunteers) and bring a bag to collect your litter in and dispose of it in the proper garbage receptacles, or when you get home.
- The two nicest hotels in downtown Montgomery are the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa and the Embassy Suites. There are other hotels downtown, but I cannot vouch for their comfort/niceness. These hotels can be a bit out of some people’s price range, so I suggest staying in Prattville (just 10 minutes north of downtown Montgomery) if your budget is a concern. Here’s a map of some hotels in Prattville - I suggest staying on the Cobbs-Ford Road area ones right off Interstate 65, as they offer the most dining and super shopping options (along with slightly cheaper sales tax than Montgomery County).
- If you have never visited downtown Montgomery, you might want to arrive a day early, or stay an extra day. We have wonderful historical places to visit in the downtown area (many withinin walking distance from the capitol), such as the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was pastor from 1954 to 1960, and organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott from the basement of the church. Also, be sure to stop by The Civil Rights Memorial at the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Civil Rights Memorial (designed by Maya Lin) is open to the public 24 hours a day for people to pay their respects to those lives lost during the Civil Rights movement. If you would like to visit The Civil Rights Memorial Center (adjacent to the Civil Rights Memorial Plaza), you can find their visitor info & hours here. I also recommend Old Alabama Town, The Rosa Parks Museum at Troy State University, The First White House of the Confederacy (I know personal opinions may differ on this, but to be fair, it’s still historical), The F. Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald Museum (a short distance from downtown by vehicle), the Hank Williams Museum, the Montgomery Riverwalk Area (near the new downtown hotels), and The Alley Station (also within walking distance of the new downtown hotels & has several dining, bar/nightlife & shopping options). If you love beautiful architecture, be sure to see Union Station (also home to the Montgomery Area Visitor Center), which is also across from the large downtown hotels. Be sure to check the websites of these places to see the days & hours of operation before going.
- Most of all, have FUN while visiting my hometown & I’ll see you on the capitol steps!
I’ll sign off with this picture of the “Flame of Freedom” from the back side of the Alabama State Capitol:
The Flame of Freedom on the Alabama State Capitol Grounds - "No greater love has man proclaimed - that patriots will die for *freedoms* *cause*."
