Rally.

Premise.  
Rally will highlight individuals exercising their first amendment rights.

Goals. 
Capture still images, audio, and/or video of individuals/groups making their voices heard.  If you are aware of any upcoming/scheduled rallies in the Spokane, WA area please contact me.

Women's Persistence March.

This Women's Persistence March occurred on 21JAN2018 in Spokane, Washington.  Hundreds of marches were held across the United States and throughout the world during the weekend of 20JAN2018 - 21JAN2018 in an effort to bring attention to several typically partisan issues.  The universal issues of reproductive rights, healthcare, and immigration were among the leading topics during the 2017 march and they were prominent again this year.  The 2018 march also focused on the power of the vote and encouraged women not only to become registered voters, but to run for political office.  The Spokane march was lead by The Red Skirt Project, a collaboration of indigenous women representing many tribes, whose aim is to shine a spotlight on the often under-publicized Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

March for Science.

The March for Science - Spokane occurred on 14APR2018.  The rally's main objective was to push for public policy to be based on science and not personally held beliefs or opinions.  Many concerned citizens were on hand collecting signatures with hopes of bringing change to the ballot box.  I had the chance to speak with Erin Georgen, of Whole Washington.  She credits Bernie Sanders as being her inspiration.  And just like Senator Sanders, she is working tirelessly to get universal healthcare on the ballot.  I asked her why.  She replied, "It's important to me.  And no one else was stepping up to the plate."  The March for Science also encouraged eligible legal residents to become registered voters.  Going one step further, they encouraged the public to become informed citizens and then to actually head to the ballot box and make their voices heard.  

The March for Science rally was emceed by Amanda Braley.  The speaker lineup consisted of Shannon Kozlovich (director of legislative affairs and outreach of Associated Students of Washington State University Spokane), Mara Hazeltine (medical student, University of Washington), Jerry White (Spokane Riverkeeper), and Bethany Montgomery (Power 2 the Poetry).   

Bethany Montgomery from Power 2 the Poetry delivered an outstanding science-inspired poetic piece to round out the speaking portion of the rally.  AJ the Wordsmith, also from Power 2 the Poetry, created four very catchy and very significant chants to get the crowd pumped and ready to take to the streets of Spokane.  You can listen to Bethany and AJ's spoken art by clicking on the short videos below.