CLEVELAND, Ohio-Activists and women's rights advocates held the fourth annual International Women's Day rally and march on Sun, March 8, 2020, the rally held on the steps of Cleveland City Hall followed by a march to Public Square, both the rally and march led by longtime Cleveland activist Kathy Wray Coleman, the head organizer for the gathering.

Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Chair Shontel Brown, the first Black woman to hold the post and also a Cuyahoga County councilwoman, state Rep Bride Rose Sweeney of Cleveland, who is the youngest Democrat in the Ohio State Legislature, activist and CNN Hero Laura Cowan, and State Sen Williams of Cleveland were the keynote speakers.

Williams spoke on women's suffrage and stressed unity among women during her speech and said that "Black and White women must come together."

The event comes as the 2020 presidential election nears.

Ohio's Democratic primary is March 17 and the theme of the event was 'March to the Polls,' a theme County Councilwoman Brown echoed during her speech, the chair of the CCDP saying it is crucial that people vote for the primary election in Ohio as well as the general election, which is Nov. 3.

Brown urged voters to "vote blue."

Reproductive rights and civil and voting rights were front and center, as well as equal pay, jobs, immigration, healthcare, science, education, racism, sexism, criminal justice reform, the LGBTQ community, national, state and local public policy, climate change, and a host of other issues.

Several others spoke on the steps of City Hall.

A special performance by Cuyahoga County Poet Laureate Honey Bell Bey was a feature of the rally, and percussionist drummers Evan Mitchell and Sandy Baxter were donated by the Local 4 Cleveland Federation of Musicians to play at the rally and march with participants to Public Square.

In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein rape scandal, Ohio Sen Nickie Antonio of Lakewood spoke on her bill to end the statute of limitations for rape in Ohio.

State Rep Juanita Brent and activist Genevieve Mitchell spoke on the state of affairs of Black women and three men spoke, namely activist Art McKoy of Black on Black Crime Inc, CNN Hero and reentry activist Brandon Chrostowski of Edwin's restaurant in Shaker Square, and Billy Sharp of the Greater Cleveland Urban League Guild

Also speaking were activists Chaerima Chungag, who discussed criminal justice reform, and Ayat Amin, who addressed immigration reform, women in science and the need for more funding for scientific research as it relates to women.

In addition to Coleman, other organizers for the event were Black Women's PAC President Elaine Gohlstin, Black Women's PAC member Avery McCauley, Cuyahoga County Democratic Women's Caucus leader Cindy Demsey, reproductive rights advocate and Cleveland Heights Democratic Club President Mallory McMaster, and activists Alfred Porter Jr and Don Bryant.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read digital Black newspaper and Black blog, both also at the top in Black digital news in the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com