These photos from the March for Racial Justice and the March for Black Women are so empowering

Yesterday, two important protests took place in Washington, D.C. in support of civil rights, and particularly women of color. On Saturday, September 30th, the March for Racial Justice and the March for Black Women converged on the National Mall.

The marches didn’t fall on the same calendar date by accident. Farah Tanis, the executive director of Black Women’s Blueprint (the organization behind the March for Black Women), confirmed that the decision was very intentional.

Feminism and civil rights are often treated as separate issues.

Tanis wanted to bring these two movements together to emphasize that intersectionality matters.

Planning for the March for Racial Justice began after the officer who killed Philando Castile was acquitted. The policeman fatally shot Castile after pulling him over in a routine traffic stop.

As for the March for Black Women, their mission is “to denounce the propagation of state-violence and the widespread incarceration of Black women and girls, rape and all sexualized violence, the murders and brutalization of transwomen and the disappearances of our girls from our streets, our schools and our homes.”

The two organizations peacefully protested yesterday in D.C.

All of these protest signs are so inspiring.

“I am human.”

During the marches, protesters chanted “Black women matter” and “Shame!”

Waves of Planned Parenthood pink popped in the crowd.

Protesters got personal about why they march.

And powerful words were shared in support of #EveryBlackWoman.

These empowering photos will inspire us for generations to come.