Thousands gathered to march and rally for women’s rights in Washington D.C. Saturday.
Crowds gathered to see celebrity speakers and live music before marching towards the White House.
For the people that couldn’t make the trip, back here at home the Blair County Federation of Democratic Women held a local walk for anyone who wanted to attend.
Melissa Smithmeyer wanted to march in Washington Saturday, but couldn’t make it to the nation’s capitol.
“I think it’s important to realize that there are just women out there that are fighting for other women’s rights and we really just want equality.”
As a Hollidaysburg native, she’s proud to walk for women in her hometown.
“You expect it big cities but in a little town like Hollidaysburg you don’t see that too much so it’s a really cool feeling to have all these women come out,” said Smithmeyer.
Everyone was marching for women’s rights and had their own issues they were walking for, whether it be Planned Parenthood, equality, and everything in between.
Tom McGahagan was standing up for equal pay.
“The experience of my wife who also taught at UPJ and of the other female professors that I knew at UPJ because the pay discrepancies were much more than was justified by their performance and academic achievement. “
The march started here at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg with plans to walk all the way to the AFSCME building in Duncansville.
“I am making a statement, we are making a statement to say that people, many peoples issues are still here. We are going to make them known and we are going to advocate very strongly, as strongly as we can,” said Blair County Federation of Democratic Women member Judy Brown.
Many of the women say that they just want their voices to be heard.
“We just don’t want certain things to be forgotten so it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of general presidential politics but it’s important to know that this is a real life battle everyday,” said Smithmeyer.
