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Protesters gather in front of the Los Angeles City Hall on Tuesday, March 8 and hold signs with photographs of women who died from unsafe abortions. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

International Women's Day in Los Angeles

Anna Sophia Moltke | Staff Photographer

On Tuesday, March 8, hundreds of protesters gathered at Los Angeles City Hall for International Women’s Day to express their support of women’s rights, abortion rights, and intersectionality. The advocacy organization Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights, which promotes women’s reproductive freedoms, led a march from City Hall to Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles. To promote the demonstration, the organizers distributed flyers calling on Angelenos to, “refuse to let the U.S. Supreme Court deny women’s humanity & decimate their rights!”

Following the speeches at City Hall, organizers from Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights led the group of protesters through the streets of Downtown Los Angeles, with guidance from the Los Angeles Police Department. Counter-protesters were also present, holding graphic images of deformed fetuses on signs and using the siren feature on their megaphones in an attempt to drown out the speeches given by activists. The march ended at Pershing Square, where singer Reverie Love performed her original song “Black Hearts,” along with two other singers, to close off the event.

Counter-protester Shiva Bagheri (left) and abortion rights advocate Taurean Charles (center) argue in front of the Los Angeles City Hall on Tuesday, March 8. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

Activist Luna Hernandez speaks to a crowd at the International Women’s Day March led by the organization ‘Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights’ at the Los Angeles City Hall on Tuesday, March 8. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair) Protester Marissa Duarte ties a green bandana on her arm at the International Women’s Day March in front of the Los Angeles City Hall on Tuesday, March 8. The green bandana is a symbol worn by many protesters and activists symbolizing their support of abortion rights. (Anna