Crowd gathers for 4th annual Women's March in Waterloo (8 photos)

The 4th annual Women's March took place across the world and here in Waterloo Region. Crowds gathered at the Uptown Public Square, carrying signs and chanting through the streets.

Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife was also in attendance. She says women are still dealing with basic health rights, basic education rights, and sexual harassment in the workplace.

According to her, the Ford Government was far behind when it comes to working on women's rights, calling it a "sad state of affairs."

"Right now he's fighting midwives in court; they're fighting for pay equity. I mean stop wasting taxpayers on this issue. Midwives deserve pay equity."

Kitchener Centre MPP Laura Mae Lindo was a guest speaker at the march this year. She says we've come a long way when it comes to people of colour (POC) voices in feminism. The march started off with a land acknowledgement before setting off to the Wilfrid Laurier Athletic Centre.

She spoke of her experiences as a black woman as well the ongoing issue facing missing and murdered Indigenous women.

"There seems to be an attack on women," she said. "A lot of pieces of legislation that we have, they don't name the reality of sexism; the ongoing fight against racism; the lack of attention to authentic reconciliation. You can pass any bill and it won't actually help some of the most marginalized."

MPP Lindo went on to attack the numerous cuts that affected major services like rape crisis centres and support for survivors.

Alan Quarry, founder of Heart beats Hate, whose group believes everybody deserves their basic human rights, came out to support the march.

"Well I think that Waterloo Region is somewhat 'woke' as you might say, but not woke enough to job opportunities, protection against assault." says Quarry.

Heather Anderson, Waterloo, is a survivor of domestic violence. She attended the march this year to stand up for the rights she didn't always have so future generations didn't have to deal with the struggles she's faced.

"The purpose of the march is for us to show that we are a community and that we are here to support one another," says Anderson, "And whether you need help or you can offer help that there is a group that you can join to be able to do that."

Ian Clelland, Waterloo, saw it as important to take a stand by the women in his life and their rights.

"We've seen a rise of social conservatism, politically, and there are a lot of groups that taking advantage of that to try to pull back on rights that have been fought for very hard over the last several decades." says Clelland.