International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8th, is being marked with a range of observances, from celebrations of female accomplishments to protests against gender inequality and violence.

Demonstrations, complete with banners, took place in cities like Bangkok and Berlin, while women across the U.K. participated in various events.

In the U.S., Women’s March, an organization created during Trump’s initial presidency to foster feminist activism, and its affiliates organized marches to mobilize supporters and promote their agenda.

Executive director Rachel O’Leary Carmona of Women’s March stated that the day’s objective is to foster community and encourage democratic participation, especially given the perceived fragmentation of democratic opposition to the Trump Administration.

The State of the Union address highlighted this fragmentation, with Democrats displaying varying reactions, including congresswomen expressing disapproval of Trump’s policies affecting women and families, members wearing blue and yellow in solidarity with Ukraine, and some lawmakers staging a walkout.

Carmona argues that differing priorities among those on the left should not preclude unity in opposing what she describes as “authoritarianism.” She views International Women’s Day events as an opportunity to cultivate this unity.

“The fact that different people are focusing on different issues doesn’t mean they aren’t working towards the same goals,” Carmona stated. “The country is fragmented…some people are focused on feminism, others on immigration rights. Labeling the left as ‘fractured’ prevents people from building power.”

Women’s March, which organized a global protest following Trump’s 2017 inauguration, was seen as a major unifying force during his first term, drawing approximately 500,000 marchers to Washington, D.C., and over 4 million across the country. Carmona describes the first march as “historic” and “the tip of the spear” of resistance. However, the impact of the original march and its ongoing message is undeniable.

However, the current climate is different.

“We are now eight years later, two presidential terms later, post-COVID, post-Jan. 6, [2021],” she said. “We have struggled to adapt to the moment, as the moment has significantly changed.”

Women’s March has also evolved. In the years following 2017, the network faced internal challenges and accusations of being “overwhelmingly white” and anti-semitic.

Now, Women’s March aims to reclaim its unifying role during Trump’s second term by embracing multi-racial, intersectional, and multifaceted activism.

This involves welcoming back past participants while also incorporating new voices. Ashley Parys and Kailani Rodriguez are first-time organizers who spearheaded International Women’s Day 2025 events in their respective cities.

Parys described organizing in the Boston area as a whirlwind experience, noting that experienced march leaders have provided guidance. She says she has transitioned from a “baby activist” to someone who will continue to support Women’s March. The event’s page recorded nearly 1,500 RSVPs prior to the event.

“People emailed me stating that they would be bringing buses filled with women of all ages to the protest,” Parys said.

Rodriguez, a 2023 high school graduate, organized a first-ever Women’s March in her small town of Port Angeles, Washington. Finding no nearby Women’s Day events, with the closest being in Seattle (several hours away), she took the initiative.

She organized the event within days and received numerous messages from potential attendees and individuals hosting similar events.

“I didn’t expect this to happen. I didn’t expect to be in charge…it just fell into my lap,” Rodriguez stated, adding that she has received considerable support from older generations.

For Carmona, International Women’s Day 2025 is about more than just the present. It’s about individuals like Rodriguez and Parys empowering their communities through democratic participation.

“We’re trying to help people build community and provide opportunities to organize in their communities outside of crisis moments, such as a negative Supreme Court decision or the loss of a right,” she explained. “We want to build relationships now so that we can support each other in times of struggle.”

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