Despite the freezing temperatures, on Sat., Jan. 18, thousands of participants gathered in Chicago for the annual Women’s March at Grant Park. Starting at 11 am, on the corner of Columbus Drive and Jackson Boulevard, activists marched all the way to Federal Plaza, which signaled the end at around noon.

This year’s march was slightly different, as it was a comeback after taking the year off in 2019. On Saturday, participants marched not only for women’s rights, but for several issues affecting the world today, including, but not limited to, climate change, gun violence, health care access, voting, and war.

“I marched for intersectional feminism and marginalized women,” senior Mahnoor Sukhera stated.

Throughout different blocks in the route for the march, participants were met with the groups advocating for the issues they were marching for, such as Planned Parenthood, Community Assistance Programs, Kids Off the Block, Inc., YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, and many others. These groups also sponsored the march.

Marchers were met with some opposition from those who disagree with the platforms represented, such as pro-life advocates.

Ruba Memon, a senior at Northside College Prep, was asked to help out with the voting section of the march by one of the past executive directors, and immediately took her up on the offer.

Memon looked forward to working with the Get Out the Vote (GOTV) effort because of the upcoming election and her ability to vote for the first time this year.

“Throughout voting, we are able to participate in our government and help make decisions,” Memon said. “It is necessary to get people out to vote, especially younger individuals, as in our future.”

Senior Maham Minhajuddin expressed the variety of issues voiced during the match.

“The women’s march wasn’t just to address issues that women are dealing with. It has to do with problems that affect everyone,” Minhajuddin said. “We were there to voice our anger against the lack of effective leadership that has been down across the globe regarding issues on gun violence, war, gender inequality, immigration, and the climate emergency.”

Although participants marched for multiple issues, the main goal remained the same: to influence those in power to make the world equal for both men and women.

As Memon summed up, “it’s always inspiring to see everyone come together to fight for a common cause.”