Voices from Saturday’s Women’s March in Oakland | East Bay Express

[image-20] David and Sophie Zizmor
David Zizmor with his daughter Sophie, 6. “I want Sophie to learn that we can fight back when we need to and I want her to see that there are a lot of people here working to make change.”

Sheryl Walton
Sheryl Walton, sporting a #MeToo name tag, said she joined the march because of Trump’s actions against women.
“Trump is anti-women, he is the worst president in the history of the United States. I am among my sisters to march for freedom and unity and respect.”
[image-14] Devin & Family
Dominique, Dana, and Devin, 7, said they were marching as a family to “protect our future—and get Trump out of office.”
[image-13] Hear Our Vote
Nikki Ludke, 16, joins others from March For Our Future, a youth-led organization that led the march. “We are here to elevate youth voices and inspire more young people to get out and be involved in politics and involved in their community.”
[image-12] Jancy James
“I am out marching so women can be represented. We have the power to make change and it’s important for us to represent ourselves—because we are not going to be represented otherwise.”
[image-11] Jess and Jaze Magallon
Jess and Jaze Magallon said they are marching to support women’s issues and intersectionality.

“I hope the march gets people to vote. I hope we keep growing as a community. I feel like it has been more inclusive and that’s really important.

It makes you feel connected. Sometimes it can feel like there aren’t a lot of people who support these causes and it’s great to see them.” —Jess Magallon.
[image-10] Kianna Williams
Kianna Williams and her daughter Drea. “We are here for women’s rights. We want to come together and stand for what’s right.”

Lauren Phipps
“I am here to connect some of the dots that not everyone is here connecting. It’s great that so many people are coming out but it can be a disservice to the work that we are doing if we are not elevating everybody and we are just elevating certain narratives. So I am here to bring in more conversation around intersectionality and bring in more conversations about racial justice at a women’s march because those two are inextricably linked. If we are not talking about white supremacy in the same breath as feminism then we are only making the problem worse.”

Maddy and Isabell
Maddy, 10, and Isabell, 8, say they came to the march to “support women all over the world.”

Nina Legaspi
Nina Legaspi, 19: “I am here to support women’s rights. Ever since I started college it has opened my eyes to how often women are not respected the way that they should be. We have done so much and it sucks to realize how much shit we go through and how it goes unrecognized.

I think that the more that we continue to protest it’s going to make a big impact—hopefully in a good way.”

Osunfemi Wanbi Njeri
Osunfemi Wanbi Njeri, a singer who performed at the opening rally, stands with her family after the march.

“I thought it was incredible. All the women and men in support of women. It was beautiful. I got to perform, which was amazing, and I hope that I uplifted and touched some of the women out there. That many women, who came out—it’s powerful. It’s important for our voices to be heard and to really step up to the front lines and start making some action happen. So it was beautiful to see all those women who came, and who took the stage, and who were in charge of different groups. I had a fabulous time.”

Peni Hall
Peni Hall said she thought the march was wonderful. “I marched with the disability contingent, which was organized entirely by disabled women. I think that this is a blueprint that we hope other organizations will look at in terms of making marches and march events accessible. Mostly, we get lost and nobody thinks about it. So this disability-centric one has been great—a very rare but wonderful experience.

“As many groups, we are under attack. For us, it is a question of staying alive. They are trying to take away the things that keep us alive.”
[image-15] Randy Thomas
Randy Thomas said he came out because of “the whole nastiness of everything that’s been going on. People aren’t being kind to each other anymore and people aren’t listening to each other. Women are totally not being listened to right now and everybody else, minorities especially—we just have to come together and not let mistakes like this administration has been happen anymore. We have to stand up and do something to make it right.”
[image-16] Ryan Duncan
Ryan Duncan came to the march for one reason: “Love.”
[image-17] Sherri McMullen and Friends
Sherri McMullen, Taylor Davis, India Swearingen, Valerie Williams, Aleenah McMullen. “I am marching for my son and his future. This is about everything I believe in. I am marching for our rights.” —Sherri McMullen

Sistah Boom
Mar Stevens and Sandy Mills performing with their group Sistah Boom, which has been around since the 1970s.
“We are women, we come together, we drum, we have a good time and we are political and positive. It is a beautiful group of women and we are here for women’s rights—all rights, human rights.” —Mar Stevens

Benjamin, Ethan, and their Mom
Benjamin and Ethan, both 6, marching with their mom. They said they were marching “to fight for women and peace and justice,” and “to help women feel fair.”

Leilani Bustamante
“This is my third march in one year. I am here supporting all the ladies and equal rights. I hope we get out the vote. I hope the 43 percent of Americans who didn’t vote actually come out an do, in order to change things”
[image-18] Wands-Bourdoiseau Family
Alan and Julie, with their daughters Jeanne and Claire, both 8.
“We believe it is time for resistance in this country. We want our daughters to grow up with this idea, we want our son to grow up with this idea—that when there is injustice you stand up against it. You don’t stay silent.” —Alan Wands-Bourdoiseau