San Diegans observe International Women's Day with a call for action and equality

Dozens of people lined North Harbor Drive on the Embarcadero Sunday in a celebration of International Women’s Day and a demonstration against gender inequality.

Miriam Cervantes carried a small drum and mallet. “The drum is here to make noise because sometimes our voice is not enough. We want to make sure we are heard one way or another,” she said.  

The event at Waterfront Park included girls and women of several generations.

“A lot of girls (my) age are insecure and try to compare themselves to other girls. You should just be confident about yourself,” said Sophia Lohse, 14, a freshman at Patrick Henry High School.

The protests were against politics and policies that are threatening progress made by women. The primary targets included the Trump Administration and the lack of criminal prosecutions of accused predators identified in the Epstein files.

Vanessa Peña is an attorney who leads her own all-female law firm in nearby Little Italy. “I’ve done sexual assault cases. I’ve worked in the public defender’s office and seen people get prosecuted,” she told NBC 7.

“Seeing it (the Epstein case) played out so differently because of people’s political hierarchy is very disheartening. It makes me sad and angry,” Peña said.

There were also men who attended in support of women they know and love. One man who did not identify himself took the microphone during the rally and simply said, “I’m appreciative and I’m deeply respectful of what you women bring to our lives.”