The Womens Marches around the nation and around the world, which took place the weekend of January 20, 2018, shocked many by the large turnouts. Six hundred thousand marches attended in Los Angeles, while Chicago's turnout grew from last year's inaugural march and Las Vegas held a major Power to the Polls rally. What made this years events different? What were the reasons for the large turnout? What controversies took place? Our guests are Emiliana Guereca, a key organizer of the Women's March Los Angeles, the largest march held that weekend; and Debroah Agre, who works with the Middle East Childrens Alliance.
from the L.A. Times:
"Calling for equal rights for women and waving "Dump Trump" signs, tens of thousands of demonstrators converged on downtown Los Angeles on Saturday to take part in the second Women's March in L.A., one of dozens of similar protests held around the country.
After an early morning rally in Pershing Square, demonstrators marched to Grand Park, clogging the streets around City Hall. There, a number of celebrity speakers addressed the crowd, including actresses Viola Davis, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman and Laverne Cox.
Delivering the most impassioned speech of the day, Davis reminded the women in the crowd that they must fight for their liberties and their rights, saying that "it is through human dedication and effort that we move forward."
"I am speaking today not just for the MeToos," she said, "because I am a MeToo. But when I raise my hand I am aware of all the women who are still in silence, the women who are faceless, the women who don't have the money and who don't have the constitution and who don't have the confidence and who don't have the images in our media that gives them a sense of self-worth to break their silence."
She urged everyone to be politically active and to fight for their cause.
"No one and nothing can be great unless it costs you something," she said. "We've got to bring up everyone with us. I stand in solidarity with all women who raise their hands … and my hope for the future is that we never go back."
Johansson spoke out about the power men have long held over women."
- KBOO