International Women's Day 2025 celebrated with march in Los Angeles

Protesters march at the Women's Day March to City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, Calif., to show their support for women's equality on International Women's Day on Saturday March 8, 2025. (Lisa Whitmore | The Corsair)

A woman holds a sign during the Women's Day March as thousands of protesters gather at Pershing Square before marching to City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, Calif., to show their support for women's equality on International Women's Day on Saturday March 8, 2025. (Lisa Whitmore | The Corsair)

A woman holds a Ukranian flag during the Women's Day March as thousands of protesters gather at Pershing Square before marching to City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, Calif., to show their support for women's equality on International Women's Day on Saturday March 8, 2025. (Lisa Whitmore | The Corsair)

Olivia Negron, a Los Angeles resident, marches to City Hall in support of equality for women on International Women's Day in downtown Los Angeles, Calif., on March 8, 2025. (Lisa Whitmore | The Corsair)

Women holding signs at the Women's March after marching to City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, Calif., to show their support for women's equality on International Women's Day on Saturday March 8, 2025. (Lisa Whitmore | The Corsair)

(left to right) Dolores Huerta Co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association and Emiliana Guereca CEO and founder of Women's March Foundation. Huerta urged thousands of protesters, who gathered at the Women's Day March, to not give their dollars to corporations that don't respect women on International Women's Day at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, Calif., on Saturday March 8, 2025. (Lisa Whitmore | The Corsair)

Bamby Salcedo, President and CEO of TransLatin@ Coalition, speaks in support of equality for women, transgender people, and immigrants to thousands of protesters who gathered at the Women's Day March, on International Women's Day at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, Calif., on Saturday March 8, 2025. (Lisa Whitmore | The Corsair)

A man holds a sign at the Women's March after marching to City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, Calif., to show support for women's equality on International Women's Day on Saturday March 8, 2025. (Lisa Whitmore | The Corsair)

Thousands gathered in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, March 8, 2025, for a march in celebration of International Women’s Day. Participants marched for gender equality and the protection of transgender people and immigrants. The march, led by Emiliana Guereca, CEO and founder of Women's March Foundation, started at Pershing Square and ended at Los Angeles City Hall. 

In an interview, Guereca expressed that women still do not have equal rights. "Today we are here in protest to say we are not going to be silent. We are not going back, we're going to continue to fight back any regressive policy that comes our way,” she said. 

“We need to elect more women,” said Guereca. “If we don't have a seat at the table, we’re on the menu.” Guereca also said that with the second Trump administration, the country is in danger of losing Medicare, educational freedoms and voting rights.  

The march consisted of all ages, genders, and races. Leon Stewart of Santa Barbara, California, joined the march to support women, show that they have allies and distance himself from the current administration. Stewart said Donald Trump needs to broaden his horizons and be more empathetic and welcoming to all people. 

“It’s pretty disgusting what's going on in the country. It's always been disgusting what’s going on for women but now the entire country is under pressure. The administration has cracked the country and they’re gonna try to sell it for constituent parts. It’s a fire sale. Meanwhile we have to tend to our own knitting and make sure the women are powerful and free so we can save the country,” said marcher Olivia Negron of Los Angeles. 

The march included music and panel speakers at the steps of City Hall. Panel speakers discussed topics including immigration rights, women's rights, the economy, and healthcare. 

Bamby Salcedo, President and CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition, addressed the crowd with an energetic speech about the power of people coming together. “All of us are going through hard times because of the stupidity we have in the federal government, but we are here to tell them to fuck off because we as people are powerful,” said Salcedo. “We as people can fuck shit up and we’re gonna let them know that we’re gonna fuck shit up! We have to understand that our power is not on social media, our power is right here right now.”