MK_012320

8 | January 23, 2020 | the mokena messenger news
mokenamessengerdaily.com
SWSA, politicians join together for Women’s March rally
4
T.J. Kremer III, Editor
Members of Southwest
Suburban Activists
members attended a pre-
Women’s March rally and
fundraiser at Crafted 1979
Bottle Shop and Tap Room
in Mokena Thursday, Jan.
16, hosted by Emily Biegel
and Amanda Koch.
Joining SWSA were two
Democratic candidates for
public office who are endorsed
by the nonprofit
organization: Michelle
Fadeley, who is running
for State Representative in
the 37th District, and Nick
Palmer, candidate for Will
County Executive.
Emily Biegel, founder of
SWSA, said the event was
organized to promote awareness
of the Women’s March
in Chicago, which took place
Saturday, Jan. 18, as well as
to support both candidates’
run for office.
“The weather is not going
to stop us; it will make
us freezing, but it’s not going
to stop us,” Biegel said.
Fadeley, who co-founded
ERA Illinois in 2016
and has been an active
member of the National
Organization for Women’s
Illinois chapter, said the
Women’s March was an
opportunity to continue a
recent trend of women being
elected to public office.
“When I first started out
in activism, the kind of sizes
of marches were not happening
on a regular basis,”
she said. “We did have,
maybe once a decade maybe
1.2 million who would
show up in D.C. But, to
Candidate for Will County Executive Nick Palmer (left)
speaks with Bill Thoman, chair of the Will County
Democratic Central Committee.
have a growth and this reinvigoration
of energy and
activism, it is just incredible
to see people actively
participating in the process
and wanting and demanding
that change.”
Palmer said he was
motivated to support the
march because “women’s
issues are all of our issues.
“Women, just like guys
— hopefully — care about
safe communities or having
the ability to make your
own decisions about health
Candidate for 37th District State Representative
Michelle Fadeley speaks with Lockport resident Daniel
Mastantuono Thursday, Jan. 16, at Crafted 1979 Bottle
Shop and Tap Room in Mokena during a rally and
fundraiser attended by Southwest Suburban Activists
prior to the Women’s March in Chicago.. Photos by T.J.
Kremer III/22nd Century Medi
care,” he said. “So, I think
things like the march focus
that more attention to the
issues, but I think they are
issues we should be concerned
with anyway.”
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