State Rep. Raumesh Akbari speaks during the Memphis Women's March to the Polls about the need for more female representation in the state legislature. Jennifer Pignolet/The Commercial Appeal
On a day the federal government shut down, more than 1,000 Memphians gathered Saturday in Cooper Young in a display of activism for the Memphis Women's March to the Polls.
The Memphis event was one of hundreds taking place around the country on the one-year anniversary of the 2017 Women's March, which drew 9,000 in Memphis, following the inauguration of Donald Trump as president.
The rally, held at First Congregational Church, included a slew of speakers, most of whom are in or running for office. Since last year's march, the #MeToo movement, which calls out sexual assault and harassment and has resulted in a reckoning for many men in positions of power, brought a new emphasis for those who rallied on Saturday.
Goal of march to energize Memphis ahead of midterm elections
The goal was to energize Memphis ahead of the midterm elections in November, event organizer Sondra Tucker said.
"We have such energy and activism here, we felt we should provide an opportunity for people to come together," she said.
Elza McKenna brought her two young daughters, ages 3 and 5, the younger one sporting a pink hat knit by her grandmother.
McKenna said she wants her girls to have confidence and pride.
"I think that starts at this age," she said.
State Rep. Raumesh Akbari spoke at the end of the rally about the importance of elevating female voices.
"Our voices are not being adequately heard in Nashville," she said before sharing one of her favorite quotes: "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair."
The event included a voter registration drive, where 23-year-old Caitlin McElligott registered after a recent move from Ohio.
"All these issues are very important to me," McElligott, a teacher, said. She worked for many years in fast food, overseeing men in her job, and was constantly harassed.
"It's just ridiculous that it's 2018 and we're still having the same issues," she said.
'This isn't just a women's fight'
The march also included a strong showing from men, including Memphis resident Jordi Soto-Phipps.
"It's important for men to support women right now," he said. "This isn't just a women's fight."
Soto-Phipps came to the event with his girlfriend, Alyssa Johnson, and friend, Jessica Focht.
"There are a lot of men I know that want to ignore it, because they can," Focht said of the rally and the issues it represents.
Soto-Phipps had an idea for how men who didn't come to a rally or a march could participate in the movement.
"Listening would be a good start," he said.
Standing up for women, even those who could not attend
Several attendees held homemade signs with sayings like "Voting is my superpower" and "Shut down hate."
Jasmine Abram, a 17-year-old Southaven resident, brought a sign she made that said, "Our bodies, our minds, our power." She was there in honor of her mother, she said, who works three jobs and couldn't be at the rally Saturday because she had to work.
"I'm just here to stand up for her," Abram said.
Reach Jennifer Pignolet at jennifer.pignolet@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @JenPignolet.