Donna Owens
The March For Black Women aimed to make a “bold public statement against racial injustice, reproductive oppression, and violence against Black women.” The demonstration was a collaborative effort of organizations that included Black Women’s Blueprint, Black Youth Project 100, Trans Sisters of Color Project and SisterSong: The National Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective.
Scroll through to see some of the most powerful imagery captured on camera as hundreds took to the streets of Washington, D.C. to lend their voices to the fight for Black women and racial justice.
1 of 15 Donna Owens
Hundreds of African American women and their allies marched Saturday in the nation's capital and cities across the country, in a display of sisterhood, feminism and empowerment.
2 of 15 Donna Owens
“We are marching to say that Black women’s lives matter, and to call for an end to systems and policies that deny our dignity." - Monica Simpson, Executive Director of SisterSong/M4BW Co-Chair
3 of 15 Donna Owens
Marchers assembled in the district’s Lincoln Park, hearing from speakers such Opal Tometi, founder of Black Lives Matter and writer/activist Michaela Angela Davis, among others.
4 of 15 Getty
Just before the march began, the multi-racial, intergenerational crowd of supporters paused to cite the names of Black women whose lives have been lost to violence, before proceeding to the National Mall.
5 of 15 Donna Owens
The group marched en masse to the Department of Justice, where they converged with the March for Racial Justice. Participants ranged from Women’s March leader, Linda Sarsour, to veteran activist Gloria Steinem.
6 of 15
The March for Black Women coincided with the 20th anniversary of the Million Woman March in Philadelphia, as well as “Red Summer” in 1919, which saw Black sharecroppers massacred by white mobs during after organizing for better pay from plantation owners.
7 of 15 Donna Owens
“We march for Black Mamas, Black grannies, Black babies and Black families." - Monica Simpson, Executive Director of SisterSong/M4BW Co-Chair
8 of 15
The demonstration was a collaborative effort of organizations that included Black Women’s Blueprint, Black Youth Project 100, Trans Sisters of Color Project and SisterSong: The National Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective.
9 of 15 Donna Owens
Sister marches were held in cities across the country including Miami, Oakland, Milwaukee, Birmingham and Chicago, to name a few.
10 of 15 Donna Owens
"Black women have been at the center of many different types of oppression--economic injustice, gender and sex based violence, police brutality. It never really occurs to people that Black women are experiencing all those types of things at the same time." - Danielle Hurd, URGE
11 of 15
The marchers chanted “Hey hey, ho ho, these racist policies have got to go!” and waved homemade signs with glitter and messages like “Black is Still Beautiful.”
12 of 15 Getty
"We have so many biases and things stacked up against us. It's important for America and the world to hear we're not treated equally." - Rachael Edwards, Baltimore College Student
13 of 15 Donna Owens
"Historically, across movements, Black women show up but we don't see that reciprocated towards us." - Danielle Hurd, URGE
14 of 15 Donna Owens
"Black women have so much power in this country that goes unrecognized and uncelebrated." - Brittany Willis, Special Education Teacher
15 of 15 Donna Owens
"This march is a chance for us to gather and show a physical and outward expression of our solidarity." -Brittany Willis, DC Special Education Teacher
You may like
Get The Essence Newsletter and Special Offers delivered to your inbox!