The National Women's March returned this weekend to Washington D.C., and hundreds of local rallies, from New York to right here in Nashville, were also held.
This year, the theme centered on "Power to the Polls,” and thousands showed up in Nashville for the march and rally.
The march in Music City began at Public Square Park at 2 p.m. Saturday. The final destination was Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park.
Photos: Thousands Attend Women's March In Nashville
More than 15,000 people marched with signs and chants like, "Tell me what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like!"
This was the second year for the Tennessee Women's March in Music City.
Women said they wanted to march for a number of social justice issues to help effect change, such as reproductive rights and wage gaps, as well as environmental justice and immigrant rights.
“We are echoing ‘Power to the Polls’ mid-term year,” said Francie Hunt, Women's March Organizer in Nashville. “Part of the effort builds skill level and motivation for women to run and progressives to run in Tennessee. Another larger vision is to help transform from resistance to persistence.”
They added a conference this year that sold out. At that conference prior to the march, more than 800 participants discussed activism and civic engagement.
“Beyond simply showing support for women and the programs that help them succeed, we wanted to give participants the tools and training to effect meaningful change,” said Francie Hunt, executive director of Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood. “The conference and march allowed attendees to foster a sense of belonging and be in a supportive space for learning. It’s heartening to see our community proactively moving forward with a vision of social change to support every woman, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, disability, or citizenship.”
For additional information on the march in Nashville, visit Power Together Tennessee 2018 online. In 2017, 20,000 people rallied in downtown Nashville for the first year of the march.
