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Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble, Mr. President.
By Rebecca Jane Stokes — Written on Feb 03, 2017
In the 1960s, one protest organization was a little bit spookier than the rest.
Who were they?
They were called W.I.T.C.H. and when they formed in New York in 1968 they were everywhere during the civil rights and women's liberation movements.
Now, they are back.
CUE THE MUSIC, Y'ALL.
At the Women's March in Portland, several Twitter and Instagram users shared photos of the "witches" and the pamphlets that they were passing out.
The meaning of the group's acronym changes depending on what the women in question are protesting.
"Women Inspired to Tell their Collective History," "Women Interested in Toppling Consumer Holidays," "Women’s International Troublemakers Conspiracy from Hell" and "Woman Imagining Theoretically Creative Happenings" are just a few of my favorites.
Under Donald Trump's presidential administration, democrats and others are protesting and organizing like never before in the face of racist, bigoted, and unconstitutional orders.
It's not surprising that this group has reemerged from the ashes to help empower women, many who are becoming involved in civil unrest and protest for the first time, during this new reactionary era.
Who are these witches?
The members of W.I.T.C.H. choose to remember anonymous. But don't think that choice comes out of fear.
Part of what W.I.T.C.H. does that is so compelling is to use the mantle of mystery and magic we associate with witches to draw attention to issues racism, sexism, fascism, and more.
According to their website, they could any women you know:
"We are everywhere. We are your sisters, your neighbors, your teachers, your bartenders, your mechanics, your check-out clerks, your drivers and your nurses.
Our costume is theatrical, instantly recognizable and unifying, reflecting the millions of witches who came before us and the legions of us who exist today. For every black-veiled witch in a pointed hat you may see holding signs on street corners or performing rituals in public squares, there are vast numbers of anonymous witches, solitary or working in covens, sending their energies into the swirling mass from which we draw our inspiration and motivation."
The choice of W.I.T.C.H. as their name isn't accidental.
To take a label that was previously used to imprison, judge, and execute women and subvert it in the name of equality makes their particular contributions to Trump's administration impossible to ignore.
Our country may not be that old, but you know what's less old?
Burning women at the stake who were smart, outspoken, or comfortable with sex.
On the W.I.T.C.H. website, the group explains that while their own faction is based out of Portland, they encourage other would-be witches out there to start their own local branches, but have a few words of warning to issue to would-be coven starters:
"ANYONE PUBLICLY CLAIMING TO BE ONE OF US IS NOT ONE OF US — WE ARE ANONYMOUS. WE DISAVOW ANY INDIVIDUALS OR COVENS CLAIMING THE NAME OF ‘W.I.T.C.H.’ AND FAILING TO UPHOLD OUR VALUES."
Because it is the year 2017, you can learn more about W.I.T.C.H. at their website, and you can follow them on Twitter.
But a good summary of what they are about is this, from their website (which is in all-caps, adding to the power and mystery, I think):
WE AIM TO USE OUR POWER TO FIGHT INJUSTICE IN ALL ITS INTERSECTIONAL FORMS, AND HELP DISMANTLE THE WHITE SUPREMACIST PATRIARCHAL SYSTEM THAT PERPETRATES IT. THE NEW GENERATION OF W.I.T.C.H. CONJURES OUR COLLECTIVE RAGE, JOY, GRIEF, STRENGTH, DETERMINATION AND FEROCITY INTO A FORCE FOR CHANGE.
WE WILL NOT CONFORM. WE WILL NOT OBEY. WE WILL NOT BE SILENT.
So don't cross them.
You might just get hexed.
Giphy