It started as one woman’s social media call to action. Now the Women’s March on Washington has grown into an international event, with over 600 satellite marches planned in all 50 states and in several other countries on the day after the presidential inauguration. This Saturday, San Diego women will join hundreds of thousands of people across the globe in taking a stand for equality.
Sarah Dolgen Shaftel is the lead organizer behind the San Diego Women’s March, taking place in downtown San Diego on January 21. She says anyone “who is interested in a peaceful, productive event” is welcome to join the march: “This isn’t just for women—this is about human rights, this is for men, boys, girls, young, and old.”
The goal of the San Diego Women’s March is “seeking social justice for all marginalized communities where women are in particular affected,” according to Alex Zaragoza, another of the event’s organizers and member of its executive committee. “One march isn’t going to change the world, I know that very well,” she says. “But what this march aims to do is call people to action, to take the next step in standing up for yourselves and other women, especially when they are persecuted.”
“We want to let people know they are not alone, and that we are going to work together for the health, safety, and equality of us all,” says Sarah Dolgen Shaftel.
Despite reports of heavy rainfall expected to hit San Diego over the weekend, over 18,000 people have said on the event’s Facebook page that they are going, with another 16,000 interested in attending. One of the women planning on marching this Saturday is Kia Birdsong, a former prosecutor with the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, and founder of the educational nonprofit SubWorksPro.
“I truly believe that when you see something that is wrong, you have a moral obligation to say something and do something about it,” she says. “I march because the next four years could impact my life and my daughter’s life, as to the level of control we will have over or our bodies and our futures. I march because I am black, and while my children are both black and white, they are still black, and could be terribly impacted by the actions of this administration.”
Sarah Dolgen Shaftel wants to encourage people to join the march on Saturday even if they don’t know much about it, or don’t consider themselves “political.”
“It’s the best way to see what a movement is about, rather than just hearing about it on the news,” she says.
San Diego Women Are Marching for Equality This Weekend
Hundreds of thousands of women are expected to march for equality this weekend. | Photo credit: andyparker72 / Shutterstock, Inc.
