Assemblymember Tina McKinnor led a powerful Women’s March & Rally in Inglewood on Nov. 2, celebrating the resilience, strength, and leadership of women and the urgent need to vote.
McKinnor, who represents the cities of Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lenox, Los Angeles, Marina del Rey, Venice, West Athens, Westchester, and Westmont, used this event to rally community members around the importance of gender equality and the need to safeguard fundamental rights.
“Women have always been at the forefront of change, and it’s crucial that we continue to stand together, raise our voices, and push for the progress our communities need,” said McKinnor.
Against the backdrop of a critical election season, the event underscored the rising urgency of women’s rights advocacy. With reproductive rights laws being challenged across the country, many of the participants marched to address these concerns.
“When they say ‘no choice,’ we say ‘pro-choice,’” the crowd clamored.
McKinnor, joined by Inglewood Councilmember Dionne Faulk, organized the march, leading attendees through the streets of Inglewood and concluding at City Hall, where prominent local and statewide officials delivered powerful speeches to a diverse and engaged crowd.
The speakers, united by a commitment to equality and empowerment, emphasized how essential women’s voices are to the political landscape, particularly in the face of persistent economic barriers, the struggle for women’s reproductive rights, and economic security.
McKinnor opened, “I am Black. I am a woman. And I am a progressive.”
McKinnor has gained national recognition for championing progressive policy initiatives in California, including legislation to unionize state legislative employees, reduce environmental microplastics, and dismantle discriminatory housing policies to foster safe and inclusive neighborhoods throughout the state.
She encouraged the crowd to vote, stating, “Voting is my Black job.” McKinnor asked for the crowd to raise their hands if they hadn’t voted, urging participants to head to the polls. “Only 20% of voters have voted in the 61st Assembly District. Cast your vote today!”
Inglewood Mayor James Butts spoke to the crowd about the strength of women.
“I’ve spent 37 years in law enforcement. I have brought up more female chiefs of police than any chief in the history of the country,” Butts said.
“Here in Inglewood, we have women department heads, women middle managers, and it is not because of preference but because of ability.”
Inglewood City Councilman for District 3, Eloy Morales Jr., stated, “Today is about action. It is about us. It is about getting everybody to vote for the right people.”
Westchester Democratic Club President Liz Kane added, “When we think about this election, for me, it’s a fight. It’s a fight every single day. It’s a fight for my right to make decisions about my reproductive health care, and yes, abortion is health care.”
Kane continued, “I fight for all of the women that don’t get to have their voices heard because they’re living in a household with partners who are voting against their reproductive rights. I fight because I want all women to have the right to choose when and if they have children. I fight because I do not want to go back to the dangerous options women had prior to Roe v. Wade in 1973.”
Westside Activist and Social Worker Ahmanise Sanati poignantly added, “To my baby, to your baby, to all the babies out there, this is so important because we are laying down the foundation for the rest of their lives.”
Sanati went on to acknowledge Josseli Barnica, a pregnant woman from Texas who lost her life after being denied medical intervention during her miscarriage.
For many in attendance, the Women’s March & Rally was not only a celebration of past achievements but also a reminder of the work still needed to ensure lasting change. This march marked an essential chapter in the broader movement for women’s rights, one that advocates hope will inspire sustained engagement and meaningful progress through legislative action.
