Lexi Cleveland spoke truth to power Saturday at the 3rd annual Women’s March San Diego — by letting speakers including Assembly members and mayoral hopefuls know their time left.
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Seated in front of a small stage at the County Administration Center, the Grossmont College student and La Mesa resident held up a red sign saying “30 seconds” and “Time Done” and also flashed a 5-second countdown with her painted-nail fingers.
She was mostly ignored.
But the young volunteer appeared pleased with herself as an event organizer cried “Let’s march!” at 12:16 p.m. Saturday — only 16 minutes late.
San Diego police estimated the turnout at 20,000, according to Lt. Manny Del Toro, but Times of San Diego figured closer to 10,000, based on the 30-minute length of the march and 300 people passing a given point each minute.
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A dancer for the Kumeyaay Native American tribe performs after a spiritual cleansing ceremony before the San Diego Women’s March. Photo by Chris Stone
Wedad Schlotte, an electrical engineer from Iraq, cheers a speech at the rally before the San Diego Women’s March. Photo by Chris Stone
San Diego Rabbi Laurie Coskey say: “This movement can’t be based [only] on women who have money.” Photo by Ken Stone
With husband and county Supervisor Nathan Fletcher applauding, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez noted the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade was only three days away. Photo by Ken Stone
Assemblyman Todd Gloria led chants of “No more” at the County Administration Center. Photo by Ken Stone
Lexi Cleveland signals 4 seconds let to San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott, who boasted over a success rate of over 95 percent for prosecutions of sex and domestic-abuse crimes. Photo by Ken Stone
Lexi Cleveland signaled time’s up to gun-control activist Wendy Wheatcroft, who said membership in Moms Against Gun Violence has tripled in the past year. Photo by Ken Stone
Lexi Cleveland signaled time’s up to a speaker at Women’s March San Diego rally — with some given 2 minutes and others 90 seconds. Photo by Ken Stone
Councilwoman and San Diego mayoral candidate Barbara Bry called for an end to silence on a variety of issues. Photo by Ken Stone
With husband and county Supervisor Nathan Fletcher at her side, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez noted the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade was only three days away. Photo by Ken Stone
Girls among about 10,000 marchers sing along with a musical performance at the rally before the Women’s March San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
About 10,000 marchers gathered at the county administration building before proceeding down Harbor Boulevard. Photo by Chris Stone
A member of the Kumeyaay Native American tribe performs a smudging blessing before the march. Photo by Chris Stone
Many children with handmade signs joined their parents on the San Diego Women’s March. Photo by Chris Stone
Members of the Kumeyaay Native American tribe lead the Women’s March San Diego down Harbor Boulevard. Photo by Chris Stone
Marchers shout down out anti-abortion advocates, who frequent popular events in San Diego and shout with bullhorns. Photo by Chris Stone
About 20,000 marchers carried signs and shouted slogans as they made their way through the harbor area. Photo by Chris Stone
A girl shows her support for women’s rights while sitting on someone’s shoulders. Photo by Chris Stone
A young girl on her father’s shoulders joins in the third annual Women’s March San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
Children joined their family members during the third annual San Diego Women’s March in the harbor area. Photo by Chris Stone
Children joined their family members during the third annual San Diego Women’s March in the harbor area. Photo by Chris Stone
Some marchers flew Baby Trump balloons during the rally and march. Photo by Chris Stone
Virginia Christman, an elder of the Kumeyaay Native American tribe, gave a blessing at the beginning of the rally. Photo by Chris Stone
Members of the Kumeyaay Native American tribe led the Women’s March San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
Activist Manny Aguilar (left) and Sister Ida of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence show support of a speaker at the rally at the Women’s March San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
Members of the Kumeyaay Native American tribe danced at the beginning of the Women’s March rally. Photo by Chris Stone
State Assemblyman Tod Gloria rallies the crowd for equal rights. Photo by Chris Stone
Members of the crowd watch a performance by Lisa Sanders at the rally before the Women’s March San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
A marcher wears a t-shirt showing President Donald Trump behind prison bars. Photo by Chris Stone
Lisa Sanders performs for the thousands of marchers at the Women’s March San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
Members of the San Diego Women’s Chorus perform at the Women’s March San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
Male members of the Kumeyaay Native American tribe perform as women from the tribe dance. Photo by Chris Stone
A marcher wearing a pussy hat reacts to a speech at the rally before the Women’s March San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
A girl sends a message about morality in this country during the Women’s March San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
Many marchers brought signs for their participation in the Women’s March San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
Men, women and children joined women in their protest of the Trump Administration during the Women’s March San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
San Diego city councilwomen Georgette Gómez (upper left), Dr. Jen Campbell and Monica Montgomery pose in front of the county administration building. Photo by Chris Stone
Women, young and old, participated in the thousands in the Women’s March San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
A young woman cheered during a song at a rally before the San Diego Women’s March along the harbor front. Photo by Chris Stone
The chanting crowd of all ages, some with dogs on leash, held Trump-bashing and women-affirming signs and soaked up the sunny day after a two-hour rally featuring rock and folk singers, including The Resizters, and Kumeyaay ceremonies and music.
Dozens of women and a few men — including Assemblyman Todd Gloria and county Supervisor Nathan Fletcher — urged the audience to fight for their rights and not stay silent amid social injustice.
Also speaking were Councilwoman Barbara Bry, like Gloria a candidate for San Diego mayor in 2020, plus local activist Tasha Williamson, who announced her own run for San Diego mayor (but said she earlier shared plans on social media).
Waterfront Park in downtown San Diego was the site, with county supervisor candidate Nora Vargas as emcee. It was among dozens taking place in cities across the country.
The downtown event kicked off about 10 a.m. with a prayer from Kumeyaay Elder Virginia Christman. Many of the speakers discussed sexism, racism and rights for LGBTQ people.
Activist Williamson, co-founder of the San Diego Compassion Project, mentioned her mayoral plan almost modestly. She is known for protesting the police shootings of people of color in the San Diego area, including Alfred Olango in El Cajon and Earl McNeil in National City.
Local activist Tasha Williamson announced her bid for San Diego mayor in 2020. Photo by Chris StoneMany protest signs in the crowd called for impeaching President Donald Trump and criticized what they saw as his history of disrespect toward women.
Sala Zalwango, a 21-year-old San Diego State student, said she’s come to the annual march every year since it began in 2017.
The inaugural marches sprang up as a response to Trump’s January 2017 inauguration and drew millions of marchers across the U.S. and around the world.
“I just think it’s an incredible cause, plus I just like being surrounded by women who are in power,” Zalwango said.
Alexandria Jones of Murrieta, 20, said she thinks the United States needs the Women’s March at this point in history, because it draws attention to rights that women and minorities are still fighting for.
“I really wanted to come out and just kind of participate in something that I fell very strongly about and I just have a good dedication to this,” she said.
Ray Hall of Fallbrook, 76, said he was at the rally to stand as an ally with women.
“We’re here for the ladies in our lives — our sisters, our mothers, our wives, our friends that are not getting treated equally,” he said.
During and near the march, street vendors sold Women’s March buttons and flags, saying they answered a Craigslist ad. A portion of proceeds was promised to event organizers.
Ad hoc entertainment before the rally included a couple dozen middle-age women dancing and singing to recorded music near the children’s playground adjacent to the county center. They called themselves Seaside Sisters — from Seaside Center for Spiritual Lives in Encinitas.
As marchers dispersed on Ash Street near Pacific Highway, they were greeted by a small group of vocal, banner-displaying anti-abortion protesters.
The marchers — separated by San Diego police from the group — chanted “my body, my choice.”
— City News Service contributed to this report.
San Diego Women’s March: Thousands at ‘Truth to Power’ Event Downtown was last modified: January 20th, 2019 by Ken Stone
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