4th Annual Women’s March Focuses on ‘Lifting Each Other Up’

Cheering, clapping and waving signs ranging from the
profound to the profane, protesters from all over the Bay Area rallied in San
Francisco for the fourth annual Women’s March Saturday.

“Today is about lifting each other up,” said San
Francisco Mayor London Breed, the city’s first female African American mayor,
who swept onstage to roars of approval from the audience.

The marches began nationwide in January 2017, sparked by the
election of President Donald Trump. About 100,000 people attended in San Francisco
that year. Subsequent years have seen smaller crowds locally and nationally. No
crowd estimate was available at press time for this year’s event.

“Our reproductive health is under attack” by the
current administration, as well as transgender rights and other civil
liberties, Breed said. The marches focus on a broad spectrum of issues
including immigration, pay equity and racial equality.

Like Breed, Eleni Kounalakis, California’ first woman
lieutenant governor, got a rockstar reception from the crowd as she took the
stage.

“I stood here in this plaza three years ago feeling
broken and devastated,” said Kounalakis, who attended the 2017 San
Francisco march.

“But as I stood with the women and men who marched in
2017, my spirit was revived. Because of that march, I stood up and declared I
was going to run for office,” winning the lieutenant governorship, she
said.

The purpose of the marches is to rally women to political
action. Speakers urged women to register and vote. Signups were available at
the event.

“The centennial anniversary of women’s right to vote is
coming up and we need representation,” said Crystal Martinez of San
Rafael, whose bright pink sign read, “Girls just want to have FUN-damental
rights.”

Martinez chairs the Marin Women’s Commission.

“Everyone’s voices must be heard,” said Danielle
Uribe, who journeyed to San Francisco from Selma, Calif., for the event.

“Truth Hurts,” a song by rapper Lizzo that has
become something of a feminist anthem, blared from the speakers before the
event, and audience members Lindsey Benson and Ashley Crump, both of San
Francisco, rocked out to the music.

“It’s important to be here,” Benson said.

Women’s marches took place Saturday from San Jose to
Pleasanton to Oakland to Walnut Creek and all over the Bay Area. Olive Lind,
10, of Berkeley, attended the Oakland event with her mom.

“It’s very important to attend these marches,” the
10-year-old said. “I want to be recognized as a woman and treated
equally.”

Source: NBC Bay Area