Women’s March protests held in Sonoma Valley
On the first anniversary of the original Women’s March on Washington after Donald Trump’s inauguration, approximately 2,000 people gathered around Sonoma’s City Hall on Jan. 20. After hearing speeches from passionate local figures like Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane, and Dmitra Smith, vice chair of the Sonoma County Commission for Human Rights, the crowd marched around the town square, many displaying handmade signs. Similar marches were held on the same day throughout the Bay Area, including in San Francisco, Santa Rosa and Sebastopol.
The protests were held in order to advocate for gender equality and fair protection of all human rights, as well as to protest the Trump administration and the GOP. The march was a reminder, a year after Trump’s inauguration, that minorities, the LGBTQIA+ community and women continue to stand together in protest.
“I didn’t have a moment in which I chose feminism,” Smith said during her speech. “Feminism chose me, because I was raised that way by my mother.” She also pointed out the privilege of those attending, acknowledging the women who were unable to protest due to their immigration status, inability to access transportation and child care.
“I want each of us to look unquenchingly at whatever privilege we have, be that race, class, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical ability, economics or education,” Smith said. “I want each of us to acknowledge that privilege and start right now exploring ways to use that privilege to fight injustice, and undo oppression.”
Note: Pictures do not depict faces of protestors in order to preserve the identities of those attendees who may be undocumented or unable to consent to having photos taken.
