Photo Story: women’s rights take center stage

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Story and photos by Shane Menez

The Guardsman

 

One day before the Republican National Convention began in Tampa, Fla., hundreds gathered on August 26 at Mission and 24th streets in San Francisco in support of Women’s Equality Day, a national day of action organized by the organization Women Organized to Resist and Defend.

 

Similar protests were held in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

 

Women, men and children of all ages held up signs and recited chants such as, “Not the church, not the state, Women must decide their fate!”

 

Ten year old Ava Toomey-Cordeiro kicked off the panel of speakers and said she wants a good future and total control of her body.

 

Student and WORD Sacramento member Yeimi Lopez Lemus said, “I march today for undocumented mujeres (women’s) rights and because I’m a role model to the younger women who will come after me.”

 

Other speakers talked about equal wages, labor, sex trafficking and rape. SFPD officers escorted the participants as they marched from 24th towards Potrero del Sol Park and many people continued to gather and speak at the park that sunny afternoon near Victor Reyes’ “Familia” mural.