Tampa Hosts Inspiring March for International Women's Day

Empowered voices unite to spotlight challenges facing women across the U.S.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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In Tampa, Florida, around 100 demonstrators gathered on Sunday to march in recognition of International Women's Day. The rally and march sought to raise awareness on issues impacting women, including reproductive rights, voting accessibility, and immigration policies.

Why it matters

The event aimed to unite individuals from diverse backgrounds to voice their concerns about the ongoing challenges women face in the U.S., particularly in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade and proposed voting legislation that could disproportionately impact women.

The details

The protestors assembled initially at Tampa City Hall before proceeding to march through the heart of downtown Tampa, chanting slogans like 'When Black women are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back!' and 'When immigrant women are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back!' The organizers emphasized the importance of bringing together people from various backgrounds to address the multitude of issues affecting women.

  • The rally and march took place on Sunday, March 9, 2026, in recognition of International Women's Day.

The players

Emilee Seda

A resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, who attended the event to voice her concerns about the impact of the overturning of Roe v. Wade on her personal reproductive health choices.

Bernadette Hornsby

A resident of Thonotosassa, Florida, who expressed concerns about proposed voting legislation, such as the SAVE America Act, and how it could affect women's ability to vote in future elections.

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What they’re saying

“I had the choice of either just staying at home or being here, and I wasn't going to not be here.”

— Emilee Seda, Resident of St. Petersburg, Florida (Newsfinale Journal)

“When Roe v Wade was overturned, I had gotten an IUD in my arm, and that messed with me completely. I personally went through physical changes and suffered through that. And just that was just to take one option to protect myself. So, I can't do that [anymore], I have to limit what I do.”

— Emilee Seda, Resident of St. Petersburg, Florida (Newsfinale Journal)

“I'm totally concerned about my daughters and granddaughters. With the new voting law, it might hurt women's chance to vote because you have your name has to match your birth certificate. And a lot of women don't have that.”

— Bernadette Hornsby, Resident of Thonotosassa, Florida (Newsfinale Journal)

What’s next

The organizers of the event have stated that they plan to continue advocating for women's rights and raising awareness about the issues discussed during the march. They are also encouraging participants to stay engaged and involved in local and national political processes to ensure their voices are heard.

The takeaway

The International Women's Day march in Tampa highlights the ongoing efforts by women and their allies to address a range of challenges, from reproductive rights to voting accessibility, that disproportionately impact women in the United States. The event's success in bringing together a diverse group of participants underscores the power of collective action in driving social and political change.