By Ashley Oliver, featuring IWF’s Our Bodies, Our Sports rally
Competitive swimmer Riley Gaines Barker is one of many who will speak on preserving women-only sports teams on the same day fifty years ago that the Title IX law went into effect to prevent sex-based discrimination in schools.
The NCAA deprived Barker of a fifth-place trophy at the organization’s swimming championships this year after Barker tied for fifth with Lia Thomas, a man, in the women’s 200-yard freestyle. Barker has said the NCAA gave Thomas the one trophy it had on hand at the event and later mailed Barker a separate trophy.
Other speakers include world champion track athlete Cynthia Monteleone; Alanna Smith, Chelsea Mitchell, and Selina Soule, three high school runners from New England who competed against men; as well as former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI).
The event takes place at 11 a.m. at Freedom Plaza.