San Francisco

Bay Area Joins Nationwide 2019 Women's March

Millions of women and their supporters will hit the streets Saturday from the west coast to the east coast.

All across the country, the annual Women's March is meant to empower women to vote and run for office. One of the largest events will be held in the Bay Area. From San Jose to Oakland to San Francisco, thousands are expected to march for the 3rd consecutive year. 

This year's Women's March theme is "Truth to Power," and the women's wave - a wave that this past election reached Capitol Hill. Never in history has Capitol Hill seen a more diverse group with 98 women currently sitting in the House of Representatives and 13 in the Senate.

Organizers of the San Jose Women's March said they are just getting started.

"We are not done yet," said Jenny Higgins, an organizer for Women's March San Jose. "There's still a lot of work."

In San Jose, half of the city councilmembers are women.

"We're going to roll up our sleeves, run for office, take our seat at decision-making tables, on boards and commissions," Chandra Brooks with Women's March San Jose said.

Organizers said they will be loud on Saturday, and loud again during the next election.

Crews spent Friday setting the stage for one of the biggest women's marches in California. In previous years, San Jose saw 25,000 people crowd the streets for the march.

"I think it's empowering for young people, and people who thought they couldn't run for office," said Brooks. "I think it's inspiring a lot of people to accomplish it one day."

Another source of inspiration for organizers is the Los Altos City Council. The council has five members and all of them are women.

The San Jose march began at 11 a.m. at City Hall and will end with a rally at Guadalupe River Park.

In San Francisco, thousands gathered in front of City Hall. Some were banging drums and many were sporting the signature pink hats. Different groups showed up to voice the support for their cause. 

California Nurses Association were present at the San Francisco march, as well as at all marches across the state, calling for health care for all and marching for their patients.

"We cannot have equality in society without guaranteeing health care as a human right," Kathy Dennis, a Sacramento registered nurse and board member of the California Nurses Association said at Women's March Sacramento.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed was also in attendance. Breed participated in the last two marches but this year is her first as the first-ever black female mayor of the city.

"I feel like the reason why I’m here is because so many people worked hard so that women could have an opportunity like this," Breed told NBC Bay Area.

In Oakland, East Bay Rep. Barbara Lee was one of the speakers. 

“We can not and will never back down. The power of women is going to change this country," Lee said to a cheering crowd at Lake Merritt Amphitheater.

Damian Trujillo and Laura Sambol contributed to this report.

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