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Crosscurrents

Hundreds rally in San Francisco for International Women's Day

Eli Wirtschafter
Messages of women's rights and immigrants' rights in front of City Hall

Today is International Women’s Day, and activists called for women to strike worldwide.

In San Francisco this morning, hundreds of women rallied in front of City Hall. Some were mothers who brought their daughters. Many had skipped school or walked off their jobs. 

Most of the protesters were wearing red. Susan Johnson's shirt said “nasty woman” — an insult that then-candidate Donald Trump gave to Hillary Clinton. Johnson says the proceeds for the shirt support Planned Parenthood.

This is not Johnson's first rally this year.

"I've come to City Hall way too many times in the last few months," says Johnson. "I'm getting to know the place."

Johnson says she took the day off from her job researching cancer immunology therapy. 

"We all need to stand up for those who can’t take the day off work," says Johnson, "and those who don’t have the rights that I do."

 

Credit Eli WIrtschafter
Hundreds rallied outside City Hall in San Francisco

Christine Bussenius came with a group of her co-workers from Grey, an advertising agency. She says they made a plan to strike, and approached their managers.

"We did not ask for permission," says Bussenius, "but told them, 'this is what we’re going to do, we hope you support us.'"

Bussenius says they "received overwhelming support."

Credit Eli Wirtschafter
Women from the ad agency Grey designed custom signs.

Later in the afternoon, a group marched to the San Francisco headquarters of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to protest deportations.

Other rallies took place in San Jose, Oakland, and Berkeley.

Crosscurrents