Hundreds of Central New Yorkers marched through downtown Syracuse this weekend fighting for women’s rights and equality as part of a nationwide movement.
The crowd that gathered at Syracuse’s Federal building joined in solidarity for the “Our Lives on the Line” national march. The two mile walk in freezing temperatures to the United Methodist Church, fell 48 hours before Donald Trump begins his second presidential term.
“Honestly, I'm very, very nervous,” said Tracy Higginbottom of the inauguration. “He's going to do something very rash and then there won't be the controls to stop him. And that's my biggest fear.”
Higgenbotham is a supporter of women business owners and among the many who coordinated the march, along with Donna Moore co-founder of New Feminists for Justice.
“I was hoping by the time my daughter was, you know a young adult that we would be done fighting these fights, but she’s 25 and here I am still standing here fighting (for women’s rights),” said Moore
Thirteen-year-old Vivian Bearup and her mother made a point to join the march.
“As a young person, I feel it's important to be here so I can, like learn about, like, really what's going on. And so I can fight for my own freedom in the future,” said Bearup.
Arriving at the Church, May Sabai Phyu, an international activist who fought political persecution in Myanmar, made a call to action for all New Yorkers.
“Sisters and brothers, gender equality and human rights advocates. Our lives are on the line,” Phyu told the crowd. “Your presence here is an act of courage. Leaders must be held accountable for their actions.”
That includes, she said, ensuring equal pay, addressing gender-based violence, and guaranteeing reproductive rights.
