Central Oregon Women’s March takes time to honor RBG

BEND, Ore (KTVZ) -- In solidarity with marches all across the country, supporters in Central Oregon held their own Women's March on Saturday in downtown Bend.

The march this year was organized by members of the Central Oregon Red Cloaks, part of a national movement for women's equality.

Co-organizer Selene Kinyon told NewsChannel 21 the event for Central Oregon was put together in only about a week, yet it still drew more than 150 people.

The march started at Drake Park, where some of the organizers spoke before embarking on the walk to "Peace Corner" at Wall Street and Greenwood Avenue.

Kinyon also explained why the meaning of the march has changed with the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

“I can only speak for myself, personally. I think it's just giving me a chance to reflect on what it means to me, and what she stood for and the doors that she opened,” she said. “I think it just highlights my values and what's important to me. "

After the march reached Peace Corner, there was a drive-by of cars waving flags supporting the Democratic presidential ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

That was another key issue for many of the protesters, given the election and the impending confirmation vote for Amy Coney Barret to fill Ginsberg's seat.

Bend resident Bridget Knight said before the march: "We need to be constructive. And we have come here today to be constructive. To protest against a Supreme Court and a government that not only would prevent further momentum, but that would backslide us. We cannot be fighting a feminist fight that we won 50 years ago."

The event lasted about two hours and received a fairly positive reaction from passers-by as the march wound through downtown Bend.

The Central Oregon Red Cloaks will hold another protest next Sunday, when they silently walk to the Deschutes County Courthouse.