On this day in 1997, 500,000 women gathered in Philadelphia for the Million Woman March

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Thousands attend the Million Woman March on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Penn., Saturday, Oct. 25, 1997. Hundreds of thousands of black women, undaunted by light rain, walked through the city to show solidarity and draw attention to issues they say are ignored by some mainstream women's groups. At upperleft is the Philadelphia Museum of Art. (AP Photo/ Chris Lane)
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On October 25, 1997, approximately 500,000 women convened in Philadelphia to participate in the Million Woman March. Modeled on the Million Man March that took place in Washington, D.C., two years earlier, the event focused on problems plaguing Black communities and the power of Black women to address them.

Speakers included Jada Pinkett Smith, Sista Souljah, Winnie Mandela, former wife of South African President Nelson Mandela, and California Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

Waters famously said, “After today, we will never be the same.”

“America, please be placed on notice. We know who we are. We know what kind of power we have. We will act on that power.”


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