Female lawmakers walk out of House chamber for women’s protest

Several female Democratic lawmakers staged a walkout from the House chamber on Wednesday to show solidarity with those striking for the “A Day Without a Woman” protest.

The walkout itself was relatively modest. Only about 10 women left the chamber together; dozens more joined them a few minutes later to address a rally on the Capitol’s east front. 

{mosads}Before leaving the House floor together, Democratic women delivered speeches in support of the protest.

“We stand with the millions around the nation who have walked out today. And today, we are walking out for them,” said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.).

Organizers for the protest encouraged people to take a day off work, wear red or spend money at only women and minority-owned businesses. They are the same organizers behind the anti-Trump “Women’s March on Washington” that drew an estimated 3 million people in cities across the U.S. 

Schools in Alexandria, Va.; Chapel Hill-Carrboro, N.C.; and Prince George’s County, Md., closed for the day on Wednesday because of widespread absences from staff participating in the strike. 

Rep. Lois Frankel (Fla.), chairwoman of the Democratic Women’s Working Group, told The Hill on Tuesday that members had considered abstaining from votes on Wednesday to participate in A Day Without a Woman. But they ultimately decided against it, opting to go with a symbolic House floor walkout and rally in front of the Capitol.

Republican women have largely dismissed Wednesday’s strike, which coincides with International Women’s Day, as counterproductive.

“The women striking today promote the ideals of a small subset of women in this country. While they make their TV appearances in the name of championing all women, the message rings remarkably tone deaf to the struggles of so many women across our country who do not enjoy the same privilege,” Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel wrote in Independent Journal Review.