This past Saturday, the local community gathered together to march for women’s rights and equality. The march consisted of seven keynote speakers, including high school senior, Gabriel Burns. The Panida was packed full of men, women and children helping to promote feminism.

“I didn’t realize how many people were going to be there, but it was also a really positive experience,” Burns said.

As president of the SHS Human Rights Club and active feminist, Burns feels as though women rights are human rights, and promotes and supports gender equality. Feminist concepts have been ingrained in her since childhood.

“When I was 12 I wrote an essay about body image, and I was just really frustrated, and I learned about it, and it was disgusting. […] I kept learning and educating myself after that point.”

An estimated 800-1,000 people were at the march, which advocated for women’s rights and intersectional feminism. Other topics that were promoted at the march including support of Planned Parenthood, reproductive, LGTBQIA and workers rights.

“You can’t just be neutral or passive, you have to really work to get what you want it the world, I think that’s what’s important about it, [the march] it’s a starting point,” Burns said.