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Momentum Builds For San Diego Women's March

Women making posters and signs for the San Diego Women's March, shown on Jan. 19, 2017.
Katie Schoolov
Women making posters and signs for the San Diego Women's March, shown on Jan. 19, 2017.
Momentum Builds For San Diego Women's March
Momentum Builds For San Diego Women's March
Organizers expect more than 22,000 people at the San Diego Women's March on Saturday.

Two days before the San Diego Women's March, dozens of volunteers gathered for a poster-making party at the headquarters of Planned Parenthood in Mission Valley.

Women of all ages put together multi-colored posters and signs with slogans like "Health Care For All" and "Women's Rights are Human Rights."

Sarah Dolgen Shaftel, lead organizer for the march, said she decided to get involved for one big reason.

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“For my daughter. I am concerned about the future of her rights, her human rights as a woman," she explained. "And I believe that if not now, when? And if not me, who?”

Sarah Dolgen Shaftel, lead organizer of the San Diego Women's March, shown on Jan. 19, 2017.
Katie Schoolov
Sarah Dolgen Shaftel, lead organizer of the San Diego Women's March, shown on Jan. 19, 2017.

Dolgen Shaftel said she’s worried about the efforts to reduce women’s access to reproductive health care, and take away the right to control their own bodies.

"These are basic human rights that should be protected," she said. "So we’re really hoping that this march inspires people to get out there, and start doing something. This is the time — we can’t wait around."

Members of Planned Parenthood are planning to be out in force for Saturday’s march.

Republicans in Congress are threatening to cut off the organization’s federal funding. Planned Parenthood Vice President Cita Walsh said marchers aren’t going to put up with that.

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Cita Walsh, vice president of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, shown on Jan. 19, 2017.
Katie Schoolov
Cita Walsh, vice president of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, shown on Jan. 19, 2017.

"They have awakened a giant called women’s feelings about human rights and women’s rights," Walsh said. "And this giant is going to be showing up in San Diego and in Washington and in markets all over the country.”

Organizers are expecting more than 22,000 people at Saturday’s march in San Diego.

Dolgen Shaftel said marchers are putting the Trump administration on notice.

"We're concerned about what they’re going to do," she said. "And so, I think we need to make sure that we’re watching, and we are here, to make sure that they do right by us and the country."

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