North Carolina Women Preparing for Trip to Million Woman March

Thousands of North Carolina women will leave for Philadelphia Friday night. They're participating in the first-ever Million Woman March Saturday.

Seven hundred thousand African-American women are expected to participate in the march. A bus carrying 188 people will leave from Raleigh Friday night. They participants hope to bring back what they learn from the city of brotherly love, and put it to good use in their every day life, here in the Triangle.

A group of students was getting ready Thursday night to add their numbers to an historic event: the Million Woman March.

Carla Bowens, a student, said she hopes to gain knowledge at the event.

The Million Women March comes 2 years after the Million Man March in Washington. It was a movement that some feel shed new light on African-American men.

Kamilla Wright, a student, said the march proved African-American men could come together in peace.

The women who will march in Philadelphia hope they have the same kind of impact. Unlike the Million Man March, Saturday's event will break the gender barrier. Of the 188 people from Raleigh making the trip, 9 will be men.

Ricky Livingston, a student, said men need to understand the issues that women are dealing with.

Two of the keynote speakers for the event are Winnie Mandela and U.S. Representative Maxine Waters. Two civil rights icons, Correta Scott King and Rosa Parks will not be there despite their names being on the program. Even so, the women who plan to attend the march are still excited about Saturday's event.