Watch Live: San Diegans Unite for 2018 Women's March

Peaceful demonstrators in support of women’s rights and empowering citizens to vote gathered in downtown San Diego Saturday for the 2018 Women’s March – one of the hundreds of events of this kind happening around the globe this weekend.Dubbed the “Women’s March San Diego: Hear Our Vote,” the 1.29-mile march started at 10 a.m. on the west side of Waterfront Park, making its way down Harbor Drive. The march will turn onto Pacific Highway and end at West Ash Street near Waterfront Park. The event goes on until 1 p.m. Feline Felony: Kitten Caper Caught by Home Surveillance As thousands of participants descended on the streets of downtown San Diego, police issued a traffic alert around part of Harbor Drive that would remain in effect through the end of the march.Signs in hand, the group moved along the waterfront. Community Rallies Around Surfer Girl With Brain Tumor According to the Women’s March website, the demonstration is “designed to engage and empower voters to support women’s rights, human rights, social and environmental justice, and to encourage participation in 2018 midterm elections.” Participants were encouraged to march for their “voices and votes to be heard.”The San Diego rally was attended by several local leaders, including San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliot and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher, to name a couple of the familiar faces. Prosecutor: Impostor Doctor Tried to Access Patient Records at Local Hospital Elliot tweeted from the rally: “We’re stronger than ever!”The San Diego Labor Council will also partake in the march, according to director of community engagement, Brissa Johnson.“It’s women coming out, in solidarity, to stand up for women’s rights and women’s issues and not only fight for equality but for equity as well,” Johnson told NBC 7. “It’s important for us to express our concerns and our voice and really bring that power back to the people.”Ahead of the march, Johnson said she expected to see a large, diverse crowd there, including many DREAMers, as well as those who support DACA recipients.“This year has been so intense with everything that’s happening with the current administration and things that are happening locally. And San Diego is a border town, so we’ve been really impacted by the legislation affecting our DREAMers and our community,” Johnson said.In San Diego’s North County, a concurrent Women’s March was planned for 10 a.m. at Palomar College. The 1.2-mile march spanned the south side of West Mission Road to San Marcos Middle School, then back on the north side of West Mission Road to Palomar College. A post-march rally was set to take place at 12:45 p.m.Organizers say those attending the North County march can take the Sprinter to Palomar Station or, if driving, park in the indicated Palomar lots.NBC 7 reached out to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) for information on security measures in place for the event.Lt. Scott Wahl said the department has been planning, preparing and working with the organizers of the local event to ensure safety, as well as with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, MTS and Harbor Police Department.“This event last year was one of the nicest events all year,” Wahl said. “Everyone was very cooperative and even thankful for our assistance. We anticipate large crowds but realize this group is very respectful and law-bidding.”Last year’s Women’s March in downtown San Diego and North County drew tens of thousands of demonstrators, many of them carrying witty signs in support of the movement and resistance efforts.Over the past year, the movement has shifted its focus from only resistance to bringing “power to the polls,” Bob Bland, co-chair of the Women’s March told NBC News.”Moving into 2018, we need to look beyond just ‘resistance,'” Bland added.The Women’s March takes place on the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Source: NBC San Diego