'A Day Without A Woman' Demonstrations In Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Wednesday was International Women's Day, and rallies were held here in Baltimore and around the country for what organizers are calling "A Day Without A Woman."

Organizers of January's Women's March have called for women to take the day off and encouraged them not to spend money to show their economic strength and impact on American society.

Rallies, like one at the Inner Harbor and Lake Montebello, hoped to bring light to women's issues and bring about change.

Prince George's County Public Schools were closed Wednesday due to "A Day Without a Woman."

RELATED: Md. School District To Close For 'A Day Without A Woman'

In Alexandria, 300 educators decided they were going to stay home so the school system had to close.

"This is a movement and it's not going away," said event organizer Donna Martin. "So we're trying to be supportive of all women."

Nationwide, women were encouraged to wear red in solidarity, and to show their economic power, not spend money or go to work.

Even at the U.S. capitol, some lawmakers also walked out.

"We're here for work equality and gender equality," said Martin.

Some standing up for racial issues, Planned Parenthood, climate change, and even the Baltimore City Schools budget gap.

With signs sporting dozens of issues, there are plenty of reasons people are marching, but they all want change.

[Reporter: "In your opinion, what needs to change?"] "Equality. We have to be seen the same. We have to be treated the same. We have to be respected for the rights that we need," said Ashley Bourne.

"A day without a woman is a day without me!," was heard around the country.

A similar scene played out in New York City and in Washington, D.C., with rally cries ranging from anti-Trump, to abortion rights.

"We're not going to stop fighting, we're not going to stop speaking until everyone on out planet is equal," said Jocelyn Broadwick of Baltimore

The movement reached as far away as the Philippines, where the march led supporters to the U.S. Embassy.

"We want to be able to have planned parenthood, we want education in our schools for our children, we want the penal system to be fair," said Malika Smith of  Baltimore.

Traffic wasn't the only thing that came to a snarl Wednesday.

Women were also encouraged to hold on to their wallets and for one day, only spend money at women or minority owned businesses.

"The only way there's ever been real change in this country is when people have inconvenienced, stood up and fought back," said Aimee Pohl of Baltimore.

Some of the groups that organized the women's marches the day after President Trump's inauguration were also behind Wednesday's events.

"It takes the women to make men move," said April Black.

No matter their individual message, these women are set on moving forward.

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