Photography Journal: Rally on International Women's Day in Los Angeles

international women's day protest in los angeles, activists march in los angeles on international women's day.

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.