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On the centennial of women’s suffrage in the United States, hundreds of women’s rights advocates could be seen marching through downtown Pleasanton in a celebration of all that women have achieved over the past 100 years.
Held in combination with hundreds of similar events throughout the country on Saturday, the 2020 Tri-Valley Women’s March saw participants acknowledge that while women have accomplished much, there are still many ongoing issues needed to be resolved.
“It’s part celebration and part (recognizing) that we do have issues we are still fighting for,” said 15-year-old Lily Mobraaten, an organizer for the march and co-founder of Pleasanton’s Students for Social Change. “Something that I really like about the Women’s March is that there is such a diversity of causes. Students for Social Change is here tabling. We have Moms Demand Action. There are so many different issues that not only affect women but our community as a whole.”
Diversity and inclusion were central themes of the march, which was preceded with a rally at Amador Valley High School where community members spoke of the tribulations girls and women have had to overcome and the work that lies ahead in achieving equality.
“There has been a very long history of women fighting for their rights that we are celebrating here today. And with all the good that has come from this movement, rooted in the ideals of inclusion and equity, we cannot forget there is a long history of exclusion and inequity within our own feminist movement, leaving out our own sisters of color, our transgender and non-binary community members,” said Brittni Kiick, a founding volunteer of Livermore Pride and the rally’s emcee, stressing the historically overlooked importance of inclusion.
“To me, being a proud American, our differences are really what make us great. Our differences are the reason why America is America. It is the reason why people come to this country; it is the reason why my parents as refugees escaped a war-torn Afghanistan to provide a better life for their family,” added Hayward City Councilwoman Aisha Wahab at the rally.
In addition to discussing issues that women continue to fight for, such as reproductive freedom, climate change and representation in government, women’s rights advocates also celebrated the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, and the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting practices and procedures that discriminate on the basis of race, color or membership in a language minority group.
Organizers also promoted the Women’s Expo being held in front of the Amador football field, where participants could learn from local organizations about their rights and how to increase involvement in their local community.
At the expo, attendees could register to vote, and while many participants such as Mobraaten are too young to do so, expo volunteers still provided information on ways youth advocates could get involved in other ways.
“This is the fourth year of the march and it is kind of coming full circle so I think its really exciting,” Mobraaten told the Weekly. “As a youth activist I can’t vote yet, but I’m excited to see my friends filtering into the generation that can.”
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Diversity and inclusion were central themes of this year’s march, which took participants through downtown Pleasanton. (Photo by Ryan J. Degan) -
Participants marched to celebrate all that women have accomplished and recognize the work that remains uncompleted. (Photo by Ryan J. Degan) -
Amador also hosted a “Women’s Expo” where participants could learn more about becoming more involved in local politics. (Photo by Ryan J. Degan)
Good fort these strong, bright women!!
Number of marchers in the 2017 Women’s March: somewhere between 3.3 and 5.2 million, nationally, –depending on the “NEWS” source.
Number of marchers in the 2018 march: about 2.6 million (roughly HALF of the previous year)
Number of marchers in this year, 2019: somewhere between 700,000 and 800,00. very roughly, about one-fifth of two years ago. Why? Lots of confusion and disagreements about aims, suggestions of anti-semitism, but most importantly,FAILURE TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING.
Nancy
I reject your notion that the TriValley Women’s March has failed to achieve anything. These events foster relationships between the young and old event organizers, build a sense of community among those interested in women’s issues and let us know we are not alone in our aim for a more perfect union. If one more person is inspired to register to vote, to cast a ballot or to run for office — as has happened in previous years — much has been realized. You negative dismissal of action speaks volumes about you, not the March.
@125
Don’t be so hard on @Nancy. You can reject the comments made; however, diversity of thought should be respected. As you well know, free speech is under attack by the left. If they control your words, they control your mind and actions. Don’t let that happen.
To move on, unfortunately the Women’s March has relegated itself to two topics: hate speech towards Trump and the right of abortion. Now, I’m not intending to debate or air on either, for that would would go on forever in this venue, but I would address your issue about registering the young to vote. Let’s be honest, your intentions are to register those young minds to vote for you’re partisan views, not to be open to thoughts and ideas on both sides of the topic. Remember, your head gear, signs, and posters give you away.
Have a great March.
“There has been a very long history of women fighting for their rights that we are celebrating here today.”
“Moms Demand Action” isn’t. They are trying to erode 2nd Amendment rights for women(and men).
Be skeptical of the “common sense gun safety” slogans, the need to ban firearms for the law abiding to “reduce violence”, “gun violence” being a kind of disease, or that gun manufacturers/supporters of the Constitution are somehow facilitating crime. Criminals do not care about/will not comply with any so called “gun safety” measures – or bans on legal firearms purchases.
@Jake,
If diversity of thought should be respected why are you bizarrely accusing Nancy of intending to register young minds to vote for her partisan views? Also you are nonsensically claiming that the women’s March is only about the topics of “hate speech against Trump and the right of abortion”. Clearly you weren’t there and have never been to a Women’s March or you wouldn’t be making these weird claims. Are you okay? We’re worried about your lack of cohesive thoughts.
@Grant
You need to review the content of your comment. I’m defending @Nancy and commenting about what @125 wrote. @Grant, are you projecting? Have I nailed it regarding the March? You don’t believe diversity of thought is important?
@Grant, actually, are you ok?
It’s a far left, “feel good” waste of time.
All these feminists voted for Hillary Clinton that accepted $10 million from Saudi Arabia that oppress women LOL
Did they wear goofy hats that look like female genitalia like the New York and DC marchers. Good way to make a point.
I just have two words for all the women…AYN RAND
If anyone’s intellectual development ended at Ayn Rand, then they are not mentally old enough to vote.
Much more productive devoting efforts to getting others out to vote, than to try to persuade any such Randy fantasizer.
“Good fort these strong, bright women!!”
Yeah, so strong and bright they need affirmative action to get into STEM programs and reduced-standards physical fitness tests to join the military, police and fire fighting professions.
But other than that, yes, strong and bright.
Dan
Getting spanked last week wasn’t enough for you, ‘dan?’ Do you like spankings, ‘dan?’
“Do you like spankings, ‘dan?’”
Ummm…no?
Dan