International Women’s Day was observed in San José through celebratory events honoring women’s resistance and rallies advocating for further progress of women’s rights.

On Saturday, History Park, located just under two miles southeast from San José State, had its fourth annual Women’s Heritage Day event.

The event featured a variety of activities including a women-owned lowrider and classic car show, local vendors, live painters from FAB Productions, glass blowing demonstrations from the Bay Area Glass Institute and several cultural dance performances. 

Diane Gallego, a member of the Blvd BombS Car Club, said she brought her green Ford to the car show for the second time.  

She said she has owned her Ford since 1997, she was introduced to lowriding through her family and plans to maintain her truck so it can be passed on to her grandchildren.

“The women used to be on the passenger side now you see a lot of women drivers and the male in the passenger side,” Gallego said.

Gallego said she appreciated the representation in what is often a male-dominated hobby.

Lowriding describes customizing and maintaining classic cars and often involves adding hydraulic lifts so the car can “jump” or lowering the suspension so the car sits low to the ground, according to an article by Force Flex Hose.

Lowriding has historical significance to Latine culture in San José, as in 1986, the city enacted a ban on cruising or leisurely driving in lowered vehicles, according to an article by Atlas Obscura.

Many Mexican Americans faced discrimination due to this policy, and in 2022, the policy was removed by San José City Council, according to the article.

Several local vendors and women-owned businesses also attended the event on Saturday.

Marisa Santos, owner of The Happy Canna Bus displayed her self-made hemp products including CBD body oils and soaps. 

The business owner’s most popular product, body oils, were created as a way to harness the benefits of hemp without the risk of intoxication that is associated with cannabis.

“There are plants that help us, they work with us, they send actual signals to our endocannabinoid system,” Santos said.

Following a day of celebration, on Sunday, activist groups gathered at St. James Park to call for an end to the federal government’s harms to immigrant women and advocate for women’s rights internationally before marching downtown. 

International Women’s Day is observed annually on March 8 and originates from early 1900s feminist groups who advocated for equal rights. 

With an expansion of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and detention centers under President Donald J. Trump, a focus of the protest was on gendered-based violence towards immigrant women, according to an article from Human Rights Watch.

Since January 2025, there have been over 1,000 verified incidents of human rights violations reported in United States detention centers, according to an investigation by Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff.

There were 44 reports of family separation including breastfeeding mothers separated from their infant and 88 reports of physical and sexual abuse, according to the investigation.

Jessica Aviles, co-chair of Community Service Organization San José (CSO SJ), said it’s important to recognize how the current administration perpetuates harm to immigrant women.

“We are trying to change the systems so the separation of families does not continue,” CSO San José said. “Stop the deportations, legalization for all.”

The march traveled through San Pedro Square, with people holding signs and an International Women’s Day banner, chanting, “When women are under attack, what do we do? Stand up and fight back!” and, “Sí Se Puede!”

Megan Sweet, member of the San José chapter of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, said observing International Women’s Day represents joint solidarity with all women. 

“Our struggles are intertwined, so our liberation is intertwined,” Sweet said.