Groups Join To ‘Fight The Right’

Nearly 13,000 young feminists, old leftists, concerned immigrants and even “Angry White Guys for Affirmative Action” joined forces Sunday for a national “Fight the Right” march along the bay.

The march was joined by some 500 groups supporting liberal causes, like abortion and gay rights and celebrities, including Gloria Steinem and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

What inspired the unusual unity was what participants call the “radical right,” their common and increasingly powerful enemy in American politics.

“They are racist,” Steinem told a pre-march rally. “They are sexist. They are homophobic. They are useful in a way because they help make our coalition because they’re everything we’re against.”

The march was meant to start the election season of rallies and canvassing, now about to begin in earnest, said National Organization for Women President Patricia Ireland said.

“Nineteen ninety-four gave us all a real heads up,” she said of electoral gains by conservative Republicans. “If we don’t unify and stand together, we’re going to get pushed back. This gives us some real momentum going into the next elections.”

The march was held in California in part because of NOW’s concern about a new initiative against affirmative action in public employment and education that will be on November’s ballot.

“The affirmative action measure on the California ballot has made it clear what we all have to do,” Ms. Steinem said. “Three things: get out the vote, get out the vote, get out the vote.”

If nothing else, the day of hobnobbing and T-shirt selling allowed intense networking that could lay the groundwork for upcoming campaign work.

One of the hottest new groups among march participants was one selling a “Hands off Hillary” pin and collecting signatures on a petition calling for an end to the investigation of the first lady’s financial dealings.