Thousands Join Women's Marches Across the Bay Area
By NBC Bay Area staff and Bay City News ••
Tens of thousands of people are expected to turn out Saturday in cities across the Bay Area for a series of Women’s Marches as part of a grassroots political movement to get more women into political office. Roz Plater and Thom Jensen report.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to turn out Saturday in cities across the Bay Area for a series of Women's Marches as part of a grassroots political movement to get more women into political office.
The Women's Marches began in January 2017 in the wake of the election of President Donald Trump, drawing huge crowds at events across the globe. The largest gathering this year will likely be in San Francisco, where an estimated 100,000 people marched last year.
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Thousands of demonstrators fill the streets of Oakland during the Women's March. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in Walnut Creek. (January 20, 2018)
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[R] Linda Fowler attends the Women's March for the first time in Contra Costa County. She said the absurdity of the Trump presidency compelled her to protest, something she has never done before. (January 20, 2018)
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Young activists hold signs during the Women's March in Oakland stating, "This is how we win, not by fighting what we hate but saving what we love." (January 20, 2018)
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Thousands of demonstrators arrived at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland for the Women's March. (January 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in Walnut Creek where more than 1,000 people RSVPd. (January 20, 2018)
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Demonstrators carry a sign at the women's march in Contra Costa County. (January 20, 2018)
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Demonstrators carry a sign at the Women's March in Walnut Creek. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in Walnut Creek. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in Walnut Creek. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in Walnut Creek. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in Walnut Creek. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in Contra Costa County. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in San Jose. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in San Jose. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in San Jose. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in San Jose. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in San Jose. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in San Francisco. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in San Jose. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in San Jose. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in San Jose. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in San Jose. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in San Francisco. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in San Francisco. (January 20, 2018)
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View of signage at 2018 Women's March in San Jose. (January 20, 2018)
While electing female political leaders is a main focus of the events, female empowerment, in general, is the overriding theme. Many of the events will feature a so-called Call to Action Alley, in which demonstrators can speak with representatives of nonprofit community organizations.
San Francisco Supervisors Hillary Ronen and Sandra Lee Fewer are among the speakers on the program at the San Francisco event, which is expected to draw about 80,000 people.
In 2017, nearly 350,000 people rode BART trains on the day of the Women's March. That's the transit agency's second highest number ever for a weekend day, especially because about 175,000 riders use BART on Saturdays.
This weekend, BART will have extra trains on standby.
Demonstrators will gather at 11:30 a.m. at Civic Center Plaza for the rally, followed by a march down Market Street to the Embarcadero at 2 p.m.
In Oakland, where an estimated 100,000 people marched last year, demonstrators will gather at the Lake Merritt Amphitheater on Lake Merritt Boulevard at 10 a.m. At 11:30 a.m., the group will march to Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland.
Tens of thousands of people joined in the streets of San Jose for the Women’s March.
Last year, about 25,000 people showed up for the Women's March in San Jose, according to organizers. This year's march is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at San Jose City Hall.
The group will march about one mile down Santa Clara Street to Arena Green East near the SAP Center for a rally with speakers, music and food.
Additional Women's March events planned in the Bay Area include Women's March Contra Costa, a 10:30 a.m. rally at Walnut Creek's Civic Park, 1375 Civic Drive.
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People gather at the Trocadero square, near the Eiffel Tower, to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump, in Paris, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018.
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
Women's March demonstrators walk past the White House in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. On the anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration, people participating in rallies and marches in the U.S. and around the world Saturday denounced his views on immigration, abortion, LGBT rights, women's rights and more.
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
Women's March demonstrators walk past the White House in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. On the anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration, people participating in rallies and marches in the U.S. and around the world Saturday denounced his views on immigration, abortion, LGBT rights, women's rights and more.
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View of signage at the 2018 Women's March Los Angeles at Pershing Square on Jan. 20, 2018, in Los Angeles.
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for The Women's March Los Angeles
View of atmosphere at 2018 Women's March Los Angeles at Pershing Square on Jan. 20, 2018, in Los Angeles.
A sign is held during the women's march in Chicago on Jan. 20, 2018.
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People rally downtown for the Second Annual Women's March on Jan. 20, 2018, in Chicago. The march was held to encourage women to fight for women's rights and social justice through political engagement.
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Marchers hold "Hamilton"-inspired signs at the Women's March in New York City on Jan. 20, 2018.
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A girl attending the march in New York City holds a sign on Jan. 20, 2018.
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A woman attending the march in New York City holds a sign on Jan. 20, 2018.
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Demonstrators carry a sign at the women's march in New York City on Jan. 20, 2018.
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Demonstrators gather for the women's march in New York City on Jan. 20, 2018.
AP Photo/Craig Ruttle
People line up on Central Park West as they wait for the start of a march highlighting equal rights and equality for women Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in New York. The New York protest was among more than 200 such actions planned for the weekend around the world.
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Two marchers hold signs in New York City on Jan. 20, 2018.
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A man holds a sign at the march in New York City on Jan. 20, 2018.
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A dog with a sign at the march in New York City on Jan. 20, 2018.
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A man in New York City has a sign that read "Me Too," in reference to the #MeToo movement, on Jan. 20, 2018.
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A woman holds a sign at the march in New York City on Jan. 20, 2018.
A sign is shown at the women's march in Oakland, California, on Jan. 20, 2018.
Linda Luu
A sign in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Jan. 20, 2018.
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A marcher holds a sign in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Jan. 20, 2018.
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A sign in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Jan. 20, 2018.
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A marcher holds a sign in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Jan. 20, 2018.
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A sign in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Jan. 20, 2018.
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A sign in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Jan. 20, 2018.
Frederica Bocco
Actress Asia Argento (left) poses with Frederica Bocco (center) and another marcher in Rome on Jan. 20, 2018. Argento made headlines after publically alleging in October that she had been sexually assaulted by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in the 1990s.
Women's March Rome
A sign at the women's march in Rome on Jan. 20, 2018.
Women's March Rome
A sign at the women's march in Rome on Jan. 20, 2018.
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Women demonstrate against sexual harassment, violence and U.S. President Donald Trump during the women's march on Jan. 20, 2018, in Rome, Italy.
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Women demonstrate against sexual harassment, violence and U.S. President Donald Trump during the women's march on Jan. 20, 2018, in Rome, Italy.
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A woman holds a sign at the women's march in Toronto on Jan. 20, 2018.
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Demonstrators carry a sign in Arusha, Tanzania, on Jan. 20, 2018.
The Santa Cruz Women's March drew 18,000 participants last year, according to organizers. This year, the event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at Pacific Avenue and Water Street, followed by a march to Louden Nelson Community Center at 301 Center Street.
Check out the full list of Bay Area and Northern California events below.
