El Segundo, CA - March, 22: Forty or so activists gathered outside of John Hancock Life Insurance Co building at 1:00pm protesting construction of the Keystone XL pipeline in El Segundo California on March 22, 2013. John Hancock Life Insurance Company owns 4 million shares in Trans Canada. Protesters demanded John Hancock Life Insurance Company to stop investing into a deadly and dirty energy.
Protesters held their signs and placards, marched, chanted and gave speeches outside the building. The demonstration lasted for about two hours.
Activists carry a banner with a massage against Keystone XL pipeline on Apollo Ave. approaching John Hancock Life Insurance Co building.
Activist holds a sign outside of John Hancock Life Insurance Co building.
An activist, Tom Gillespie wears a head sign.
An activist holds a sign during a protest in El Segundo.
A protestor holds a sign while listening to a speech outside of John Hancock Life Insurance Co building.
Protesters march and chant outside of John Hancock Life Insurance Co building in El Segundo , CA.
An Activist holds a sign and chants.
Activists hold their signs.
A sign pictured in front of John Hancock Life Insurance Co building.
An activists takes a rest during a protest.
An activist known only as Faramarz gives a speech outside of John Hancock Life Insurance Co building.
Protesters hold their signs and chant .
Protesters await activists that went inside the building.
Brian Seligman, an activist with Occupy Marines and Occupy LA holds a sign.
An Activist holds a picture of Canadian Tar Sands
An Activist holds a sing and chants
El Segundo Police officers are pictured monitoring a protest.
Los Angeles, CA - Demonstrations, marches and protests have been taking place all over the world to mark International Women's Day. Here in Los Angeles, two rallies took place in Downtown, Los Angeles and in Hollywood on March 9.
In Downtown, Los Angeles activists gathered at 10:30am on a corner of Bauchet and North Vignes Streets near the family visiting lines outside the Downtown Jail. The rally was organized by several activist groups including Alexandria House, Californians United for a Responsible Budget, DCFS Give Us Back Our Children, Every Mother is a Working Mother, Women of Color/Global Women's Strike and many more.
The Rally started with Aztec Dance performance and continued with speeches. The women called to end poverty, to stop removing children from their moms due to poverty, to stop cutting welfare, health care, food security and other basic survival needs for low income communities. The activists demanded the change of priorities from war and prison economy to the one that cares about people and the environment. An organizer of Women of Color/Global Women's Strike, Margaret Prescod said " Our focus on International Women's Day is the increasing precarious position of women and our children in Southern California….The ongoing economic crisis is hitting single mothers, immigrants and other low and no income people the hardest, and women of color are disproportionally impacted". Diana Zuniga, an activist from California United for Responsible Budget said " The women in Los Angeles are hungry and in need of health care. What Los Angeles want to do? They want to build a $200 million so -called "Women's Village' - a new jail!….The women in Los Angeles don't need a new jail….We need to be out of jail with housing, food, education, quality healthcare of our choice and other resources necessary for the care of our families….".
Around 11:30am the activists started to march. They marched about 2 miles to the Last Bookstore on South Spring Street for a Teach In that started at 1:30pm.
In Hollywood, about 200 activists, students and labor organizers gathered on a corner of Hollywood Blvd. and Vine Street at 1:30pm. This rally was organized by WORD - LA (Women Organized to Resist and Defend). Daniel Norwood , Los Angeles organizer from WORD said "Violence against women is not normal. It is not acceptable. Women and our allies in the struggle for justice will no longer tolerate it". Mayra Vega an organizer of Los Angeles for a New Economy pointed out that women in Los Angeles are struggling due to their low wages. " 61% of women are making poverty wages and they are living in our communities. Those women deserve respect and livable wages!" Mrs. Vega added.
WORD activists and supporters started to march at 2:30pm on Hollywood Blvd. They marched 2 miles and stopped in front of Chinese Theater on Hollywood Blvd.
Rally in Downtown, Los Angeles.
An activist holds a sign at the Rally in Downtown, Los Angeles on International Women's Day
Aztec dancer performs at the Rally in downtown, Los Angeles on International Women's Day
Aztec dancer performs at the Rally in downtown, Los Angeles on International Women's Day
Margaret Prescod gives a speech
Activists begin to march
Activists march and chant
Activists hold the sign and march on North Vignes Street
Activists march on North Vignes street
Activists march on North Vignes Street
Activists march on Cezar Chavez Avenue
Rally in Hollywood
Activists hold their signs and wait for Rally to begin
Activists wait for Rally to begin
Women activists gather for the Rally on International Women's Day in Hollywood
Children hold the sings at the Rally in Hollywood on International Women's Day
An unidentified activist holds a sign
Activists and supporters gather for the Rally on International Women's Day in Hollywood
An unidentified activist holds a sign
Pita Lindsay, WORD organizer gives a speech at the Rally in Hollywood on International Women's Day
Children make a sing that reads " Little boys and girls fight for women!"
Activists march and chant
Activists march on Hollywood Blvd.
Activists march on Hollywood Blvd.
Activists march and chant "Pro life is a lie, they don't care if women die".
Children march and chant "Wherever we are , Wherever we go, Yes means Yes and No means No!"
Activists march and chant on International Women's Day in Hollywood
Activists march and chant on International Women's Day in Hollywood
Activists march and chant on International Women's Day in Hollywood
Activists march and chant
Activists chant "Pro life that's a lie, they don'r care if women die!".
An unidentified activist marches at International Women's Day in hollywood
Daniel Norwood, organizer for WORD - LA marches on Hollywood Blvd.
