Thousands of human rights, supporters, community members, and activists rallied Saturday at the fourth annual Sacramento Women’s March. The march was held in solidarity with Women’s March Global, a movement started three years ago in support of preserving womens’ rights worldwide. 

Members of the Miwok people of Sacramento guided the march, including tribal chair and elder Mary Tarango, 74, who has led the Miwok of Sacramento for 22 years. 

“There are a lot of good people who came out,” said Tarango, a Sacramento State criminal justice alumna. “It’s important to have people who whole-heartedly recruit. The native people are always left out. But this is our ground.”

RELATED: 2019 Women’s March gathers organizations in support of women’s issues

The march began at 10:30 a.m. in Southside Park near Midtown Sacramento with several local organizations such as 350Sacramento, Young Democratic Socialists of America and Sunrise Movement Sacramento joining. Marchers carried signs displaying messages such as “every woman deserves to be paid fairly and treated equally” and “women’s rights are human rights.”

Led by Tarango and the Miwok of Sacramento, the marchers proceeded from the park to the west steps of the Capitol building.

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Marchers begin their path to the State Capitol from Southside Park, all for the reason to preserve #HumanRightsForAll @TheStateHornet pic.twitter.com/Mm3qnyoHpf

— Kendra L. Rivera-Molina (@kendralinnette) January 18, 2020

Sacramento State transfer student Iris Bastet attended the march as community outreach director for Black Womxn United, a non-profit that describes itself as “dedicated to the education, protection, and advancement of ALL Black womxn,” according to its website. 

While tabling at the Capitol, Bastet said there were both positive and negative encounters at her station.

“We had a lot of people touching and pulling at our table without permission,” Bastet said, referring to an incident where merchandise for the non-profit was being mishandled.

Bastet said she also dealt with a man who spoke negatively subjects of sex workers and transgender individuals by the Black Womxn United table.

“We had a man who decided to banter, rant, and antagonize my community board member,” Bastet said. “It’s a reassurance of why Black women do the work they do. We need our own space to be around people who understand what we need to be more comfortable.” 

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Kendra Rivera-Molina

Members of the Miwok tribe of Sacramento along with members of sister tribes stand at the state Capitol in support of human rights and missing and murdered indigenous women at the Sacramento Women's March on Saturday Jan. 18.

Jodi Hicks, president and CEO affiliate of Planned Parenthood to California as of October of last year, said incidents like the one at Bastet’s table have motivated her to continue attending rallies and marches like the Women’s March in the strive for justice over human rights regardless of demographics.  

“It’s really important to come together and to take a stand to protect the rights of women and really anyone who is disenfranchised,” Hicks said. 

Hicks said she motivates others to vote and to continue to stand up for themselves regardless of the situation, emphasizing the importance the march has in the community. 

“This generation of students that I have so much hope in, is you all (who) grew up with this generation of Obama, this theme of hope,” Hicks said. “I think that carries you through right now, where you will be in a time of fight.”

Tarango also pushed young people to resist whatever injustice interrupts their educational journey. Tarango said that one’s identity cannot be defined by anyone other than themselves. 

“You have to remember, you have a purpose,” said Tarango. “We are all connected. No matter the background, we are connected to Mother Earth and Father Sky. No matter where you come from, remember who you are.”