Women’s March SF Announces Rally Lineup for #WOMENSWAVE and Vows to Continue to Speak #TRUTHTOPOWER

San Francisco, CA. January 10, 2018 -- On January 19, 2019, Women’s March San Francisco will again host a rally and march, kicking off at San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza at 11:30 a.m. with a lineup of speakers who advocate and organize on and around topics central to the Women’s March mission to work on behalf of human rights, civil liberties and social justice for all.

“Last year’s march focused on a theme of #HearOurVote, and we are now coming off a momentous midterm, where a more representative body of leadership has taken seat at the local and national levels. This year, we know the work is not done,” says Sophia Andary, chair of Women’s March San Francisco. “We aim to bring together women and allies to reaffirm our commitment to building a positive and just future for all; showing up and making space for our diverse San Francisco community to rally around the theme #TruthToPower and to celebrate and build additional power for the #WomensWave.”

This year’s speakers are advocates and leaders in their communities and fields. They’ll be covering a wide array of issues including anti-semitism, immigration, indigenous peoples rights, LGBTQIA rights and representation, reproductive rights, and socioeconomic and social justice.

“A historic 127 women were sworn into Congress this month, and many of them stand on behalf of their sisters and brothers separated from families at our border or struggling to make ends meet while the government is at a standstill, we have another opportunity to reignite the power in our communities’ fight for human rights, civil liberties, and social justice for all,” continued Andary. “They heard our Voice in 2017, our Votes in 2018, and in 2019 they will know #TruthToPower.”

The March and Rally are both family-friendly events run by an all-volunteer staff. It is strongly encouraged that people take public transit to the event. After the rally, the march will commence at 1:30 p.m. and conclude at Embarcadero.

Women’s March San Francisco is a 501c3 organization supported entirely by donations.

At the Rally

Emcee: Mona Shaikh
Mona Shaikh is a comedian and actor with conservative Muslim roots who currently lives in Los Angeles. She made history by becoming the first Pakistani female Comedian to headline Hollywood Improv, and has been featured on The Young Turks, Newsweek, The Guardian, LA Weekly, New York Post, Huffington Post, Washington Post and BBC.

Rally Speakers: (alphabetized by last name)

Maimona Afzal Berta, Franklin-McKinley Board of Ed Member
Maimona Afzal Berta is an elected member of the Franklin-McKinley Board of Education, serving as the first visible hijabi Muslim and the youngest woman in an elected leadership role in San Jose and all of Santa Clara County. She continues to advocate for state legislation and trained educators on fostering safer schools.

London Breed, Mayor of San Francisco
Mayor Breed is a native San Franciscan, raised by her grandmother in Plaza East Public Housing in the Western Addition. She first entered public office in November 2012 representing District 5 and was recently elected Mayor in June 2018. During her time in public office, Breed has passed legislation to increase affordable housing, fought for Navigation Centers to reduce homelessness, and worked diligently to improve public safety.

Alicia Contreras, Executive Director, Spanish Speaking Citizens’ Foundation
Alicia Contreras is the executive director of the East Bay Spanish Speaking Citizens’ Foundation. She is a recipient of the Paul Hearne award, responsible for negotiating the first city funding in San Luis Potosi for disabled people, and previously served as a Mexican delegate to the UN/NGO Forum in Beijing in 1995.

Clair Farley, Senior Advisor on Transgender Initiatives, SF Mayor’s Office
Clair Farley is a community leader, writer, actor, and trans advocate who speaks across the country to advocate for increased LGBTQ visibility. She was invited to the White House to participate in the inaugural LGBT Innovation Summit and was recognized as a "Soldier of Social Change" in the SF Magazine's Annual Women in Power Issue.

Marci Glazer, CEO, Jewish Community Center of San Francisco
Marci Glazer is CEO of the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF). She joined in 2014 and has since served on the JCCSF board in varying capacities. Prior to joining the JCCSF full-time, Marci was Executive Director of the Flip Video Spotlight Program at Cisco Systems where she established partnerships with more than 3,000 charitable organizations.

Gilda Gonzales, CEO, Planned Parenthood NorCal
Gilda Gonzales is the first Latina to serve as CEO of a California Planned Parenthood affiliate. She served an eight year tenure as the Chief Executive Officer of The Unity Council, a community development organization, and held several key positions during a 14-year tenure in Oakland City Hall.

Marge Grow-Eppard, Activist
Marge Grow-Eppard is an activist dedicated to giving more visibility to missing and murdered indigenous women. She currently lives in Murphys, California.

Becky Gulsvig, Singer
Becky Gulsvig stars in the national tour of COME FROM AWAY. Other credits include the Broadway productions of School of Rock, Legally Blonde, Hairspray, and Beautiful. In COME FROM AWAY, Becky is honored to be portraying Beverly Bass, the first woman to fly a commercial airliner.

Musimbi Kanyoro, CEO, Global Fund for Women
Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro is President and CEO of Global Fund for Women. She is an activist for women and girls’ health and human rights, and passionate about using philanthropy and technology to drive social change.

Barbara Lee, Congresswoman
Congresswoman Barbara Lee was elected to serve California’s 9th congressional district (now the 13th) in 1998. Congresswoman Lee has been an outspoken opponent of the Iraq War, and continues to work to repeal the 2001 authorization for the use of military force (AUMF). Since entering Congress, she has authored or co-authored every major piece of HIV/AIDS legislation. Currently, Congresswoman Lee serves as on the Appropriations Committee, and as co-chair of the Cannabis Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus.

Sam Lew, Policy Director, Coalition for Homelessness
Sam Lew is a San Francisco native and currently the Policy Director for Coalition on Homelessness, an organization dedicated to developing the leadership skills of homeless San Franciscans to forge true solutions to the housing crisis and beat back mean-spirited attacks against them.

Annita Lucchesi, Researcher, Activist
Annita Lucchesi is a Southern Cheyenne descendant and doctoral student at the University of Lethbridge. Annita maintains one of the largest databases of cases of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Canada and the United States and her research includes, indigenous feminisms, postcolonial geographies, and indigenous research methodologies.

Aurora Mamea, Native American Health Center
Aurora Mamea is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet tribe of Montana and has been involved in organizing women to raise awareness around Missing Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) issues. Aurora has worked at the Native American Health Center for the past 20 years in various roles, most recently as Program Manager I/Grant Project Director. She also provides cultural learning (including regalia making, storytelling, and cultural dancing) for Native youth.

Jessica Nowlan, Executive Director, Young Women’s Freedom Center
Jessica Nowlan is the Executive Director of the Young Women’s Freedom Center. She has over 20 years of experience in both non-profit and for profit management with an emphasis on Youth and Workforce Development with underserved populations with multiple barriers to employment.

Kanyon Sayers-Roods, Artist, Author, Activist
Kanyon Sayers-Roods is Costanoan Ohlone and Chumash and works as an artist, Poet, author, and activist. The daughter of Ann-Marie Sayers, Kanyon’s art has been featured at the De Young Museum, The Somarts Gallery, Snag Magazine, and numerous school projects.

Terisa Siagatonu, Poet, Educator, Organizer
Terisa Siagatonu is an award-winning poet, arts educator, community organizer, and mental health advocate born and rooted in the Bay Area. Terisa is a recipient of President Obama’s Champions of Change Award whose work has been featured on Poetry Magazine, Button Poetry, CNN, NBCNews, NPR, Huffington Post, Everyday Feminism, The Guardian, and BuzzFeed. 

Natasha Singh, Consultant, Writer, Center for Domestic Peace
Natasha Singh is an educational consultant addressing consent, healthy relationships, porn literacy, and mindful masculinity with schools, parents and students. She also works closely with Asha Rising; Freedom Forward; and Center for Domestic Peace, a Marin-based nonprofit committed to transform our world so that domestic violence no longer exists. Her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, and several anthologies.

Rebecca Solnit, Writer, Activist, Historian
Rebecca Solnit is a writer who grew up in the California public education system. She’s a contributor to the Guardian, and the author of twenty books on hope, feminism, disaster, environment, western history, and wandering.

FOR MEDIA

B-roll and images from previous marches, impact statements for 2019 and other materials are available. Please register for press credentials for access to on-site press facilities.

For interviews or to register as press, please contact: pr@womensmarchbayarea.org