Women's March in South Lake Tahoe draws almost 400

It may have just been planned in the last two weeks, but the 2018 Women's March in South Lake Tahoe drew out 392 women, men and children to join hundreds of thousands of others marching around the country.

"The turnout was phenomenal," said co-organizer Meg Peart. "Its amazing how quickly our community can come together."

Peart and Kelsey Adams took an idea and reached out to the community through Facebook, friends and local news to get people out to walk the just over two mile route from Hard Rock Hotel and Lakeview Commons.

Donned with pink hats, carrying signs and wearing their message on shirts, the 392 walked for several things, all centered around the theme of women getting to the polls and voting. Their messages where acknowledged by the honking passerby along Highway 50.

But voting wasn't the only call on women as participants gathered at Lakeview Commons at the end of the march to hear from organizers and Mayor Wendy David and Supervisor Sue Novasel. All passionately spoke to the crowd about why all marched, and how to keep the momentum going to November.

"This is not the time to be complacent," said David." what we cannot be is ignored."

During a year where revelations about powerful men abusing women led to the "MeToo" movement, female activists are now demanding deeper social and political change in the United States. A goal of the marches is to take the enthusiasm behind today's activities and turn it into victories during November's mid-term elections.

Since 1960, women voters have increasingly outnumbered men at the polls, and in the 2016 Presidential election, they made up 53 percent of voters to 47 percent for men. As a country, about 55 percent of eligible voters turned out to vote, leaving large numbers of opinions at home.

"Our walk is much shorter than those before us," David said of those that marched for the rights of all, whether it was for minorities or women. "Our resolve is just as great."

With the mid-term elections just months away, David said the time is up and to reject racism, reject sexism. "We need to preserve why our nation was formed."

"Vote to ensure our nation welcomes the huddled masses," said David.

"We need to make changes now," said Novasel. "If every woman got out and voted last year we wouldn't be where we are today."

Novasel spoke passionately to stir the predominately female audience to not only vote, but to run for office.

"Let's keep this momentum going," said Peart. "March forward!"

Peart and several others were boarding a bus Saturday afternoon and heading to Las Vegas to walk at the national march city.