Women Unite in Hermosillo to Demand Safety and Rights
On a significant Sunday in Hermosillo, Mexico, students, feminist groups, and families gathered for the annual International Women’s Day march, voicing their call for an end to violence and demanding justice and rights for women.
Their rallying cries echoed through the streets as they made their way to the state judiciary building. “To whoever’s listening, this is your fight,” they chanted, emphasizing the collective nature of their struggle.
Participants carried signs and banners calling for diverse issues, from ending imperialism to legalizing abortion. However, the central theme was ensuring women’s safety. María Soto, present with her mother, voiced a common concern, stating, “I, along with the majority of my friends, my mom, all the women surrounding us, have survived some type of violence.”
The marchers called for government accountability regarding abusers and justice for the missing and murdered women of Sonora, a state plagued by disappearances often linked to cartel violence. Many families continue to search for their loved ones.
Protesters also highlighted the need for safe and legal abortion services in local hospitals as Sonora remains one of the few Mexican states where abortion is criminalized.
“If we don’t change things, nobody will,” Soto emphasized. “That’s why I’m here, so they keep listening to us, and to create a better future for women.”
While the march was predominantly peaceful, symbols of dissent included spray-painted messages on the judiciary facade and burning signs at its entrance.
Among the demonstrators was Taydee Parra Villagran, who brought her three daughters, including a baby with purple face paint, symbolizing International Women’s Day. “I want them to know that they’re free, and no man can subjugate them,” she declared.
