Turnout Low, Spirits High at ‘Million Woman March’

What had been billed as a “Million Woman March” drew an estimated 1,000 people to Exposition Park on Saturday, according to the Fire Department, but the smaller crowd was treated to a spirited series of political and cultural presentations.

In talks, songs and poems, the predominantly African American audience was urged to have pride in itself, to bring families closer and to fight for its rights and the affirmative action system. One of the biggest cheers of the day came when vocalist Janice Carr sang, “No matter what they take from me, they cannot take my dignity.”

Organizers led by Celes King III, state chairwoman of the sponsoring Congress of Racial Equality, blamed the disappointing turnout on periodic false reports in the media that the event had been canceled and on a discouraging attitude by elected officials.

King charged that City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who represents the area in which the event was held, was “really afraid of having a women’s march in his district.”

Ridley-Thomas was not available for comment. In recent days, he had suggested that the event, inspired by last fall’s “Million Man March” in Washington, D.C., was poorly planned.

The master of ceremonies, Linda Collman-Willis, dedicated the march and meeting to singer Ella Fitzgerald, who died earlier in the day.

State Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) said that regardless of which political party the women belonged to, all were saying by their presence that they want to be included in the American system.

King said organizational efforts will go on. “Our next step is to see if we can unify for greater job opportunities, educational awareness and setting of our own agenda,” he said.