Women’s reproductive rights, the current uncertain state of the nation’s democracy and the loss of gains were the central issues on the minds of the thousands who converged on Los Angeles City Hall for the “International Women’s Day Protest and Rally.”
Heidi Mastrogiovanni, who lives in LA, was among the women and men who first gathered at Pershing Square for the march, ready with scores of picket signs deriding President Donald Trump and Elon Musk for targeting Social Security and Medicaid as a solution to reduce government spending, promising mass deportations and eliminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs.
“What the hell is going on with our democracy?” Mastrogiovanni pointedly asked. “People have fought and died for our country, to preserve our democracy, and … [Trump and Musk] are destroying our sacred democracy and that’s why I’m marching. … I am almost speechlessly outraged, and you got to protest, you got to stand, you got to do something.”
Mastrogiovanni has taken part in several rallies held by the Women’s March Foundation – the LA branch of the National Women’s March organization.
She is also a volunteer with Civic Sundays LA, a voter registration group for progressive candidates, and proclaimed that she has voted in every election since 1976. The topics on Civic Sundays’ platform also align with the issues that most concern Mastrogiovanni, including LGBTQ+ rights, climate change and voting rights – especially after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
“He [Trump] took credit for that. Let’s never forget that he took credit for that,” Mastrogiovanni said. “What are young women going to do? It’s not a problem for me now, [but] what are young women going to do?”
She asked that others take action and not sit idly by “while our democracy is so threatened” and pleaded with Democratic leaders to do more, specifically calling out House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer.
Liz Chatelain traveled to LA from Oceanside to take part in the march. She has been to five Women’s Day marches, including the first one held in Washington, D.C., in 2017. Similar to Mastrogiovanni, she expressed her fears about the future of the country’s democracy and said she doubts we’ll see an easy and free election ever again.
“I’m really worried about women’s rights,” Chatelain said, “so we’re here to [express] our voices and all these thousands of people [are here] because there’s nothing more important than American democracy and American freedom.”
She doesn’t trust Trump at all, and is worried that he will try to run for a third term – the 22nd Amendment restricts presidents to two terms – or will attempt to put one of his relatives into the Oval Office.
“We’re not going down that path. This is America,” she said.
Carolina Bojorquez drove from La Habra with her young daughter, meeting up with Lizeth Sanchez, a resident of Riverside, to go to the rally. It was the first time both women attended a Women’s March event.
Bojorquez wanted to show her daughter how she can take action when she doesn’t like what’s happening in politics. Sanchez added that there comes a point when you have to make your voice heard and can no longer sit around and watch.
“For me, [the biggest issues] I think are the elimination of Social Security … and also the dismantling of the Department of Education. That’s a big one for me because I’m a teacher,” Bojorquez said. “I have a mother who’s going to be affected by [cuts to] Social Security if that actually goes through and gets approved by Congress.”
“Immigration is big for me. I was born in Mexico, so that’s a huge deal for me,” Sanchez said. “I feel like this administration is leading with a lot of hate and fear, and I’m very much against that.”
They were glad to be around others who felt the same way – attending the rally made them “feel hopeful.”
Bojorquez isn’t sure if and when she will join another rally similar to this one, but said she takes action every day by calling her representatives and donating to causes she supports.
“Put your money where your principles are,” Bojorquez said. “Support companies and businesses that align with you and your [principles]. Also donate to organizations, like the ACLU, that are putting that work towards protecting human rights. Any little bit helps.”
“I would also encourage [more] men to come out,” Sanchez added. “It’s not just women who should be out here. If you care about your sisters, wives, mothers and daughters, come out here and voice your opinion.”
