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South Shore Women’s March participants discuss reasons for marching (video)

Claire Cudahy
ccudahy@tahoedailytribune.com

On Saturday, Jan. 20, 400 people participated in the 2nd annual Women’s March on the South Shore — and their reasons for taking to the street were varied.

The march began in Stateline where men, women and children gathered with signs. “Women belong in the House…and Senate…and Oval Office…and the State Capitol, City Hall, the Courts and the Board Room. Vote 2018,” read one sign. “Women! Our power is at the polls!”, “We stand united against hate,” and “In support of DACA and Dreamers,” stated others.



“I think that it’s about time that women have their say, and we need to have more women elected so that we at least represent the demographics of this country, which we don’t right now,” said Becky Cardenas prior to the march.

The theme of this year’s event on the South Shore was “March to the Polls,” though just like last year’s inaugural march, every participant had their own reason for being there.



“I’m marching today because I believe in the constitution and I don’t see that our president fulfills that and I would love to see other women, especially young women, stand up to help us continue the fight that we’ve fought for decades to ensure our women’s rights,” said marcher Nancy Gibson.

“We are marching today to support human rights — lesbian, gay and women — so it’s going to be a great day to resist the current administration,” added Greg Brooks.

Reproductive rights, anger toward comments and decisions made by President Donald Trump, environmental justice, immigrant rights, and the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements against sexual assault were other commonly cited reasons for participating in Saturday’s march.

At the conclusion of the march, South Lake Tahoe Mayor Wendy David and El Dorado County District 5 Supervisor Sue Novasel delivered speeches.

“We must march to the polls, educate, contribute, speak up and speak out with our vote, encourage women to run for office, elect women to office, ensure that there is not one elected official anywhere, anymore, that has ever used their power to sexually abuse women, has bragged about their stature, has attempted to roll back almost 50 years of progression,” said David.

“We must vote to ensure that our nation of immigrants, for we are a nation of immigrants, continues to welcome the huddled masses, yearning to be free.”

Women’s marches took place across the country on Saturday. An estimated 500,000 marched in Los Angeles, 300,000 in Chicago and 200,000 in New York.

On Sunday, thousands showed up for Power to the Polls rally in Las Vegas put on by the official Women’s March organization. The rally kicked off a nationwide voter registration drive with the goal of capturing a million new voters in time for the midterm elections. More than 600 women are expected to run for office this year.


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