Elgin rally in conjunction with women's marches Jan. 20
The second annual rally in Elgin designed to send the message the city is welcoming and inclusive is Jan. 20, held in conjunction with and in support of women's marches across the country.
"Elgin Standing Together" will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way. The rally begins indoors and will move outside for a march around the block.
The rally is co-sponsored by the city's human relations commission and YWCA Elgin's advocacy committee. The main themes will be supporting immigrants' issues, women's issues including violence, sexual harassment and lack of access to health care, and providing a safe community, said Danise Habun, a member of the commission.
Mayor David Kaptain will give a welcome address, and there will be speeches by state Rep. Anna Moeller, Elgin Community College sociology instructor Joyce Fountain and Elgin physician Dorothea Poulos. Two local girls will provide musical entertainment.
"Our focus and emphasis is on what Elgin stands for," Habun said. "We stand for being a welcoming community to all people, where people feel safe, people feel secure."
That also means people with disabilities, said Phil Mungai, also a commission member. Mungai has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. "It's really important we celebrate our diversity, and just come together and be stronger through that," he said.
Mungai said that last year he and his father attended the women's march in Chicago to honor the memory of his late mother, who died in 2016, and to help spotlight sexual harassment and gender wage gap. He said he's looking forward to attending the Elgin rally.
"The framing (of the rally) is celebrating a diverse community, where everyone is included, and just making sure the whole city of Elgin knows that as great as we are, we're all greater than the sum of our parts."
People are encouraged to wear pink hats and bring signs, and can also make signs at the rally. As for whether the Elgin rally officially has become an annual tradition, Habun said, "As long as they are needed, the rallies will continue."