Hundreds March Through Union Square on International Women's Day

Hundreds of demonstrators packed Union Square on March 8, rallying and marching through one of San Francisco's most recognizable public spaces to voice demands spanning reproductive rights, gender equality, and opposition to U.S. military action abroad.

The crowd carried signs reading "reproductive justice," "women for peace not war," and "no war on Iran," reflecting a message that participants said stretched well beyond any single issue. "I'm out here today for women's rights, for all human rights," said Lacey, who traveled from the East Bay to attend.

Among the speakers was Sully, affiliated with the group Refuse Fascism, who framed the gathering in explicitly political terms. "We're here today because the Trump regime's attack on women and women's rights is unacceptable and we have to rise of our millions we have to encourage that rising in our millions to defeat this," Sully told the crowd. She also addressed foreign policy directly: "We are going to be vehemently opposing the Trump regimes attack on Iran."

Two participants, Deborah and Paige, arrived dressed as suffragettes. "We had the idea of dressing up like suffragettes to pay homage to our foremothers who led this very brave protest movement," Deborah said. She added a broader point about civic action: "We want to remind people that protest movements do work." Paige connected the moment to current legislative threats, saying, "Particularly, now that voting is really coming under attack with the Save Act."

After the rally portion concluded, many in the group marched through the surrounding streets, with participants saying they intended to keep organizing.

The San Francisco demonstration was part of a wider wave of Bay Area activity on the same day. Several hundred people gathered at Lake Merritt in Oakland for a separate rally and march. In San Jose, around 50 protesters set out from St. James Park and marched to the federal building, moving west on West St. John Street and south on North San Pedro Street. That group carried a banner reading "International Women's Day" in large orange letters and chanted "Women united will never be defeated!" and "Revolution! Revolution! It's a women's revolution!" Signs in San Jose included "defend women's reproductive rights" and "No ICE, no war."

International Women's Day, observed on March 8 for more than a century, marks both the achievements of women globally and, in years like this one, a focal point for protest over what many demonstrators described as an accelerating rollback of the rights their predecessors fought to establish.