One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Your guide to the SoCal Women's Marches
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 21: Participants seen during the Women's March on January 21, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Downtown Los Angeles for the Women's March in protest after the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Women's Marches are being held in cities around the world. (Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images)
(
Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images
)
Los Angeles is preparing for the second annual Women’s March Saturday. The massive event gathered hundreds of thousands of people in downtown L.A. for the first time in 2017 one day after President Donald Trump was sworn in to office.
In the months following, online movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp shift the national conversation around sexual harassment and sexual violence, though march organizers have dubbed this year’s rally as a referendum to get people to the polls in November midterm election.
Who is participating?
Women’s March L.A. is the central organizer, but they’re partnering with dozens of social and activist groups and labor unions.
L.A.'s event is expected to be well attended by celebrities, including actors Scarlett Johansson and Chloe Bennet. Singers Melissa Etheridge and Idina Menzel will perform.
Where will the rallies be?
Major cities around the country will hold marches and rallies over the weekend.
- Women’s March LA gathers at Pershing Square at 8:30 a.m. marching to Grand Park starting at 10 a.m.
- The Roman Catholic Diocese of LA is sponsoring One Life LA, the local version of the National March for Life starting at La Placita Olvera at noon on Saturday.
- The Inland Empire will hold a march that starts and ends at the Historic Riverside Courthouse.
- The Orange County Women’s March begins at 9 a.m. at West Civic Center Drive and North Flower Street in Santa Ana.
- South Bay’s Women’s March starts at 10 a.m. at 245 N. Harbor Drive in Redondo Beach.
How do I get around the city?
Los Angeles Police expect Downtown L.A. to be congested. Roads from Cesar Chavez Avenue to the North, Alameda Street to the East, Olympic Boulevard to the South, and Figueroa Street to the West will be closed starting at 6 a.m. and continuing for 12 hours.
To accommodate increased traffic, Metro Rail lines will run trains more frequently than on a typical Saturday. MetroLink will also have special schedules from Antelope Valley, San Bernardino and Ventura County. Transportation officials recommend buying fares in advance to avoid crowding at the platform on Saturday morning.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
