Following the first Women's March was held in 2017, this year saw its second edition with the promise to make it an annual affair globally. Most themes involved healthcare reforms and human rights on the basis of race, immigration, ethnicity and mainly, gender. Thousands of women stepped out, not just in the United States but also in Rome, Canada, UK and Japan to "look back and march forward." The second time around, the rally was larger in size, expansive in causes and saw many celebrities on the streets.
1. Natalie Portman
A foremost member of the Time's Up movement, Natalie Portman took to the stage the second time at Los Angeles and spoke about having experienced what she described as 'sexual terrorism,' revealing how the first fan letter she received, aged 12, detailed a man's rape fantasy involving her. "At 13 years old, the message from our culture was clear to me. I felt the need to cover my body and to inhibit my expression and my work in order to send my own message to the world that I'm someone worthy of safety and respect. The response to my expression, from small comments about my body to more threatening deliberate statements, served to control my behavior through an environment of sexual terrorism," Natalie said. Her speech is not going viral.
Natalie Portman speaking on stage about the movement
2. Eva Longoria
One of the foremost members of the Time's Up movement, Eva Longoria attended the march in Los Angeles and spoke to the attendees at the event as well. In her speech, she goes on to say, "As we build upon the momentum of #MeToo and Time's Up, we women have this world's attention. So let's seize it to catalyse a permanent shift."
Eva Longoria at the LA edition of the women's march
3. Emma Watson
Emma has been a feminist advocate and launched her campaign HeForShe in 2014 along with even being a UN Women Global Goodwill Ambassador. In a pink beanie and denim jacket, Emma along with her mum showed up to support the march, while even taking a few pictures of young Harry Potter fans.
#WomensMarch pic.twitter.com/dYZPxJ13FI
— Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) January 22, 2017
Emma Watson with her mother at the march
4. Zoe Kravitz
Zoe made sure she let the world know her fight hadn't stopped since the previous annual event and posted a picture with a young supporter at the Los Angeles march.
Zoe Kravitz and a young protester in Los Angeles
5. Amy Schumer and Amber Tamblyn
Nothing funny about comedian Amy Schumer and actress Amber Tamblyn taking to the streets of Washington for the march. The latter has spoken about being sexual harassed by an ex-boyfriend in 2016.
Amy, Amber and friends at the Washington protests
6. Sarah Hyland
In a trucker cap with the slogan 'Feminist' and a Time's Up t-shirt, Modern Family star Sarah Hyland attended its Los Angeles leg. She held up a #MeToo sign and spoke at the rally saying, "If we have learned one thing this year, it's that we are not alone. Millions of women have marched, millions of women have raised their voice and told the world, hey, me too. And now, united we have declared, that the time is up."
Sarah Hyland at the Los Angeles protests
7. Alyssa Milano
Actress Alyssa Milano's tweet helped set the #MeToo movement's ball rolling so expectedly enough, she spoke at the women's march and shed light on the power to the polls cause, which aims to channel the activism of the movement to active administration. In her speech, Alyssa said, "I want you to look around and realise that this is what democracy looks like. It doesn't happen automatically, it demands our action and participation, it challenges us but it also empowers us. Because, at the end of the day, it is us."
Alyssa at the LA march
8. Drew Barrymore
As Drew took to the march for her daughters, Olivia and Frankie, she got emotional and wrapped up her video by saying, "Fight like a girl." Truer words have not been said.
Drew gives us a look at the women's march
9. Adele, Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lawrence
The threesome donned sunnies as they took their protests on the streets for the march. Adele captioned the pictures speaking about women empowerment and says, "I am so grateful to be a woman, I wouldn't change it for the world."
Jennifer Lawrence, Cameron Diaz and Adele at the march
10. Viola Davis
Actress-activist Viola Davis gave possibly the strongest speech of the march in Los Angeles and spoke for women who don't have the resources to do so. In her statement, she says, "I stand in solidarity with all women who raised their hand because I know it was not easy. My hope for the future is that we never go back."
Viola Davis gives a rousing speech at the march.
Now isn't that a powerful, empowered way to kick start the year or what.
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