SANTA CRUZ —Tens of thousands of people descended upon downtown Santa Cruz Saturday morning to march for the rights of women.
Originally a national movement started two years ago on the eve of Donald J. Trump’s presidential election, the event has now become a more local affair.
ABOVE: Families march together at the 2019 Santa Cruz Women’s March. (Photo by Johanna Miller/Pajaronian.)
Families, organizations, and other groups of protestors marched down Pacific Ave., holding up homemade signs. Chants of “This is what democracy looks like” rose from different points in the substantial crowd.
“I have a lot of important women in my life, and I need to continue to support them,” said Michael
Local rock band the Summit Sisters performed at the end of Pacific Avenue, where protestors turned onto Water Street and over the San Lorenzo River to head for the Santa Cruz County building.
.jpg)
ABOVE: A protestor chanted back-and-forth to the crowd along the route of the Women’s March on Pacific Ave. (Photo by Johanna Miller)
Organizers estimated that over 20,000 people took part in the march. Similar marches were held throughout California, including in major cities such as San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland, Los Angeles, and San Diego. News agencies reported more than 100,000 people demonstrated in Washington D.C.
In the parking lot of the county building, marchers gathered for speeches and musical performances by acts such as Watsonville Taiko and the Women’s Spirit Song Choir. Various groups, including The Diversity Center of Santa Cruz, Planned Parenthood and the Santa Cruz Democratic Party set up booths nearby.
“I’m here to resist all the bad publicity this current administration has against women and women’s issues,” said Margo McBane of Santa Cruz. “You have to have a voice.”
ABOVE: The Summit Sisters perform at the Santa Cruz Women’s March. (Photo by Johanna Miller)
