© 2025 WVIK
Listen at 90.3 FM and 98.3 FM in the Quad Cities, 95.9 FM in Dubuque, or on the WVIK app!
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Western Illinois March for Women

Magali Roy-Fequiere, who teaches Africana and Gender & Women's Studies at Knox College, led demonstrators during the rally.
Rich Egger
Magali Roy-Fequiere, who teaches Africana and Gender & Women's Studies at Knox College, led demonstrators during the rally.

Hundreds of people marched through the streets of downtown Galesburg Saturday morning in conjunction with the Women's March in Washington D.C. and similar demonstrations around the globe.

The radio story

"I'm really enthusiastic about all the energy.  I am surprised that so many people came out, given that we've only had a week to organize this.  So this shows that there is a real hunger for a new vision,” said Magali Roy-Fequiere, who helped organize the rally in Galesburg.  Roy-Fequiere and other organizers said their work is just beginning.  They plan to caucus, network, and brainstorm ideas for fighting back against a presidential administration they said does not represent them and their values. 

The march stretched down the street and around the block.
Credit Rich Egger
The march stretched down the street and around the block.

Demonstrators chanted, "Healthcare is a human right" and "No human is illegal."
Credit Rich Egger
Demonstrators chanted, "Healthcare is a human right" and "No human is illegal."

"In numbers there is unity, and we can increase the awareness of the need to be advocates of ourselves and for those who cannot advocate for themselves,” said Sharon Graham of Biggsville, who’s involved with an after school program at her church.

Sharon Graham speaks with TSPR's T.J. Carson as people start gathering outside the Knox County Courthouse for the start of the rally.
Credit Rich Egger
Sharon Graham speaks with TSPR's T.J. Carson as people start gathering outside the Knox County Courthouse for the start of the rally.

"I'm willing to give him the opportunity to proceed, hopefully in the interest of all people in the country," Graham said of President Donald Trump.  "But I'm also going to be monitoring decisions that he makes.  And I hope to connect with other people who are like minded and work together."

Credit Rich Egger

Copyright 2021 Tri States Public Radio. To see more, visit Tri States Public Radio.

Rich is the News Director at Tri States Public Radio. Rich grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago but now calls Macomb home. Rich has a B.A in Communication Studies with an Emphasis on Radio, TV, and Film from Northern Illinois University. Rich came to love radio in high school where he developed his “news nerdiness” as he calls it. Rich’s high school had a radio station called WFVH, which he worked at for a couple years. In college, Rich worked at campus station WKDI for three years, spinning tunes and serving at various times as General Manager, Music Director and Operations Manager. Before being hired as Tri States Public Radio’s news director in 1998, Rich worked professionally in news at WRMN-AM/WJKL-FM in Elgin and WJBC-AM in Bloomington. In Rich’s leisure time he loves music, books, cross-country skiing, rooting for the Cubs and Blackhawks, and baking sugar frosted chocolate bombs. His future plans include “getting some tacos.” [Copyright 2025 Tri States Public Radio]