Women in India are being strong and standing up for their equal rights.
The women of Kerala, India formed a Women's Wall in support of the lifting of the ban preventing women of menstruating age from entering the historic Hindu Sabarimala temple. Although the ban was lifted in 2018, clashes with protesters have prevented any women from approaching the temple.
The human chain formed by the women was an astounding 385 miles long and an estimated 5 million women participated. The protest lasted around fifteen minutes and was peaceful.
Indian Communist Party member, Subhashini Ali participated in the protest and had this to say:
"There were so many women and there wasn't even space for women to extend arms. If they had extended their arms, the length of the wall would have increased so much that women would be falling in the Arabian Sea."
The hashtag #womenswall began trending on Twitter with many people posting videos and photos of the revolutionary event.
Phenomenal! Never seen such a display of women power. Down Down Patriarchy and Communalism #WomensWall https://t.co/FtY4o45Chc— Sudeep Sudhakaran (@Sudeep Sudhakaran)1546344393.0
We see you, Kerala! Women raising their hands to pledge to fight gender discrimination, as part of a 620 kilometer/… https://t.co/oj1UXxcZaz— Christian L. Frock (@Christian L. Frock)1546405008.0
A powerful movement is taking place across India and history is being made! I wish I could join the 5 million stron… https://t.co/UBZTA0wtF4— Caitlin L-J Burrows (@Caitlin L-J Burrows)1546390532.0
The progressive women who went on Kerala streets today against "regressive" Hindu traditions like #Sabarimala… https://t.co/PqUK4xHo40— Shakuntala Iyer (@Shakuntala Iyer)1546350132.0
Officials in the southern #Indian state of #Kerala say 5 million women formed a 620km (385-mile) human chain "in su… https://t.co/IHC38wJ7t4— Mona Eltahawy (@Mona Eltahawy)1546363305.0
The effort continued to gain support around the world and word spread.
@autumnrainwish This is the only kind of wall I’d support #WomenWall— justhermom🇨🇻 (@justhermom🇨🇻)1546383729.0
@autumnrainwish This is incredible!! It gives me chills. Complete admiration & respect for these women’s solidarity… https://t.co/oDZcOaIBwv— Anne Brown (@Anne Brown)1546386258.0
@autumnrainwish this is amazing #Womenswall #2019— heather (@heather)1546397208.0
@autumnrainwish Truly amazing this stuff gives me hope— Bob dymond (@Bob dymond)1546416658.0
Powerful women coming together for change.