Photos by Drew Crenshaw/Staff Photographer
Women march through Smithfield neighborhood on March 26.
Birmingham united for the second annual Women’s March Saturday, March 26.
“What do we want? Change. When do we want it? Now. How do we get it? Together.”
This chant filled Birmingham’s streets Saturday morning as people gathered together in support of women’s rights and equal opportunities.
“This is happening because it’s necessary,” said Tori Wolfe-Sisson, the chief organizer for the event. “The other marches were really, really white. There were lots of people who were there to feel good about themselves. This march, we march together.”
T.Wolfe-Sission and Shantae Wolfe-Sission are co-founders of the BLK Pearl Organization who organized the women’s march.
“We are an organization committed to providing health and wellness opportunities for black and brown women,” S. Wolfe-Sisson said. “And any allies who are down with the cause, with no-ism’s. No racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, any phobia. They can keep that at the house because until we start fighting together, we will all lose. We will always lose.”
The crowd was diverse, bringing people from various backgrounds and ages together. Some held signs that declared support for black women, equal healthcare opportunities and support of Planned Parenthood.
Carol Norton, 74-years-old, said she came to the march because she believes in supporting women’s issues and showing Alabama women’s strength. Norton said that the march was an opportunity for people who support the same policies to get together and be able to uplift one another.
Norton said this one event has the potential to effect people all over and could initiate a change in the city.
“For every one person who’s here, that person affects another 20,” Norton said. “For instance, I went to the women’s march in Washington [D.C.], and when we got back, there were about four or five of us in Homewood who started a women’s group there. It was very involved. And after that, Vestavia started one and Mountain Brook started one, but it was those people knowing that we’re not alone.”
Tori Wolfe-Sisson, the chief organizer for the Women’s March, chants through the megaphone.
Cedric Gauthier came from Rutledge, Georgia to join friends in the march. According to Gauthier, inequality is an outdated way of thinking, yet we have not been able to move past it.
“The 14th Amendment,when it gave voting rights to all races, at that point, women weren’t even considered people, and black women doubly so,” Gauthier said.
Gauthier said Alabama is known for being racist, and something like this event could wake people up about issues going on.
“I never really got the chance to precipitate in anything like this, because my city never really did it,” saidShemiah Greene, attendee of the march. “I care so much about empowering black women and just women in general and fighting for equality, so this is a great opportunity to put my activism to work.”
Alyssa Rigsbee, a 6-year-old, marched alongside her mother and sister. Rigsbee wore a pink superhero cape on her back.
“Girls can be superheroes too,” Rigsbee said. “My favorite superhero is my mom.”
Madison Prim, attendee of the march, said that this was her first march, and she attended because women’s rights are an important issue to her.
“Given the history of Birmingham, I think that this is important,” Prim said. “When it comes to change, Alabama is slower than a lot of other states. I just think this is important here. I’ve lived here all my life, and it’s just important to see something like this happening in your own hometown.”
According to Prim, so much still needs to change in order for there to be equality for women.
“There’s a lot of double-standards,” Prim said. “I’m really passionate about sexual violence against women. I feel like that needs to be brought to more attention…The wage gap and discrimination, not giving opportunities to you because you’re a woman. Those are things that need some work.”
T.Wolfe-Sisson said that they are working on solutions. After the march, BLK Pearl held information sessions about healthcare for women of color, and that they hope to see people make long-term commitments to get things done as well as determine long-term commitments that should be made for the women in Birmingham.
