THE LOOP — The thousands of women who plan to march in the Loop a day after Donald Trump's inauguration will led by local activists as well as leading ladies from the Chicago run of "Hamilton."
"Hamilton" stars Karen Olivo and Ari Afsar are among those expected to speak at the Women's March On Chicago, which will begin at 10 a.m. Jan. 21 at the Petrillo Music Shell in Grant Park. They'll join activists from across Chicago as well as local actress Fawzia Mirza, who portrayed Trump's "illegitimate Muslim daughter" in a satirical video that went viral last year.
"We're planning and hoping for the largest women's rally and march outside of Washington, D.C.," Ann Scholhamer, one of the march's organizers, said in a statement. "We have been hard at work with our dedicated volunteers to confirm an incredible slate of speakers, representing issues brought to light during the campaign and diverse issues of concern to Chicago women."
More than 24,000 people say on Facebook they're either interested in or will attend the rally, which is one of many protests planned by women nationwide in response to Trump's upcoming presidency. Trump's treatment of women angered many during his campaign. Aside from the now-notorious video of him bragging about grabbing women without their consent and the multiple sexual harassment allegations, women were angered by his treatment of former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly and former Miss Universe Alicia Machado.
Women are also concerned about a Republican-run White House doing away with Roe v. Wade, defunding Planned Parenthood and opposing the fight for equal pay and anti-discrimination measures.
Other speakers planned for the Chicago march include officials from Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Access Living, and various immigrant rights groups. Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton, the mother of slain Kenwood teenager Hadiya Pendleton, is scheduled to speak.
The women's march, which will follow several other protests in Chicago on Inauguration Day, will step off in Grant Park and go around the Loop. The march will also stop in at the federal plaza near Adams and Dearborn streets.
The rest of the announced speaker lineup:
Ari Afsar: from the cast of Hamilton (speaker and performer during rally)
Jean Albright: master sergeant (retired) U.S. Air Force
Eman Hassaballa Aly: community activist
Faith Arnold: SEIU Healthcare Illinois, Fight for $15
Eloise Diaz Bahrmasel, RISE Movement
Rabbi Shoshanah Conover: Temple Sholom of Chicago
Tamar Manasseh: Mothers Against Senseless Killings
Fawzia Mirza: actor/producer
Karen Olivo: "Hamilton" cast member sSpeaker and performer during rally)
Sara Paretsky: author, Sisters in Crime founder
Channyn Lynne Parker: Transgender activist, TransLife Project Manager
Rahnee Patrick: Independent Living at Access Living
Maria Pesqueria: president, Mujeres Latinas en Accion
Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton: Hadiya Pendleton Foundation
Tiffany Pryor: executive director, Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health
Liz Radford & Ann Scholhamer: Co-chairs of the Women's March on Chicago
Samantha Marie Ware: "Hamilton" cast member (speaker and performer during rally)
Reyna Wences: Organized Communities Against Deportations
Rev. Janette C. Wilson, Esq.: national Rainbow PUSH Coalition
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