SAN DIEGOSAN DIEGO—In a time when women’s voices have perhaps never been heard so clearly, tens of thousands of energized San Diegans marched on Saturday to unleash a collective roar: See you at the ballot box.
Galvanized by a historic series of events over the past year — from the #MeToo movement to the election of a Democratic senator in the fiercely red state of Alabama — crowds at Women’s Marches in downtown San Diego and San Marcos expressed determination to turn their anger and outrage into action.
Where the 2017 marches were a catch-all for myriad causes, this year participants united under the theme of “Hear Our Vote” and pledged to make the upcoming midterm elections a broad referendum for women’s rights and against President Donald Trump.
“Last year after the march, a friend said, ‘Now what do we do?’” said state Sen. Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, one of several speakers to address the crowd at San Diego’s Waterfront Park.
“This is what we do. Each and every day it’s up to us to make our voices heard. We do not stop. We march forward.”
In a crowd that San Diego officials estimated at 37,000 — but pegged at over 100,000 by march organizers — Stephanie Spence, of Coronado, held a sign in the shape of a frame surrounding her face.
“This is what a voter looks like,” it said on the front. “Your voice is your superpower,” Spence wrote on the back.
The writer and businesswoman said she had escaped an abusive husband who even tried to control whom she voted for.
“He’d say, ‘Don’t cancel my vote,’ but I’d go into the voting booth and vote for whoever I wanted to anyway,” Spence said. “I was afraid. Now, though, I have reclaimed my voice and I am speaking for those who are afraid to speak their truth.”
The orderly but ebullient local events were among several marches being held across the country this weekend, with most happening Saturday. The national march will be on Sunday, this time in Las Vegas rather than Washington, D.C., the site of last year’s record-setting turnout.
The man occupying the White House there was very much a presence in San Diego Saturday. Signs in the crowds, ranging from the angry and serious to the humorous and absurd, took aim at Trump’s policies, personality, scandals and racially-charged statements.
“Grab ‘em by the midterms,” one said, turning a phrase from Trump’s notorious “Access Hollywood” tape into a election day rallying cry.
“We still believe in civil discourse,” said Anita Dacey, of Ocean Beach. “We’re here because we’re strong, erudite and sick of being led by people with no compassion, no morals, no character, no intelligence.”
The pediatric nurse said she was marching with the support of four men behind her: her husband and three sons.
“I have three sons — three sons who know better than to act like President Trump.”
Across the reaches of the county and amid the sea of pink shirts and knit p***y hats, there were also those calling for the rights of Latinos, blacks, Native Americans and the LGBTQ community and protection of the environment, “dreamers” and Planned Parenthood.
Among the 3,000 to 4,000 marchers at Palomar College in San Marcos was retiree Doris Payne, who volunteers at a local elementary school. She said nearly 70 percent of the students there are Latino, and her sign read, “Empathy is an American value. Protect the Dreamers.”
“I’m out here today because … enough already,” she said. “It’s important that we not lose hope.”
Numerous Democratic political candidates had informational booths set up at both marches. They and independent groups had volunteers registering scores of voters.
“We have seen a tremendous amount of momentum,” said volunteer Nils Goins, who was overseeing the North County voter registration drive.
Women outnumbered men by about 3 to 1 at both gatherings, but the men who attended enthusiastically wore their support on their sleeves, as well as signs and hats.
“Men of quality are for equality,” read Vista resident Craig Thompson’s handmade sign.
Sporting a fuchsia shirt, farmer’s overalls and a white cowboy hat, Tom Lemmon, business manager for the county’s Building and Construction Trades Council, was there with his wife Karen and 13-year-old daughter K.T.
“I see women coming into the workplace that are incredibly competent, that are incredibly skilled,” but still have a hard time professionally, he said. “Men need to change the culture,” adding that there is more pay equity among unionized workers.
Lemmon said he might not have been born a feminist but has evolved into one. “Wisdom is experience gone wrong,” he said.
And about that hat? “Hey, look up #GoodGuysWearWhiteHats,” he said laughing.
His wife turned more pensive.
“I have just been so, so distressed this year with what’s going on in our country,” she said. I just feel they’re sucking us down the drain, these divisive, racist, misogynist, hatemongers who are trying to make it us versus them, instead of we. I want to go back to where we’re hopeful again.”
Their daughter was looking forward. “I’m here because it’s making a difference not just for me, but for any kids I have in the future,” the teen said.
Listening intently to the line-up of diverse speakers from the County Administration Building, school nurse Sascha Lopez, of San Diego, held a sign with a Mexican proverb: “Somos semillas” or “We are seeds.” It continued: “They tried to bury us, they didn’t know we are the seeds.”
She wiped tears from her eyes after explaining why she was marching, alongside her husband, her pre-teen daughter and her daughter’s friend.
“I couldn’t not be here. I’m here for my students whose parents have been deported. The dreamers. I’m here for my LGBT trans friends who are afraid. I’m here for my husband who is a science teacher. I’m here for them,” Lopez said, pointing to the two girls with her.
“It’s overwhelming how many reasons there are to be here.”
videokristina.davis@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @kristinadavis
