Snow slicking up the roads didn't stop a crowd from filling the Charles H. Wright Museum's rotunda for the Detroit Women's March-turned-indoor rally on Saturday.

The crowd began cheering and chanting, "Rashida, Rashida, Rashida..." as U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib took to the podium.

"Girls, we have a new Congress. We not only look differently, but we speak differently," she said.

"And I can tell you, we're not about just fighting on the floor of the United States Congress, but also in the courts and also on the streets along your side... I can tell you they will try to shush us. They will try to tell us to be quiet... I'm going to tell you, you all are fueling us to speak louder and very clearly, and the whole nation knows exactly how I feel."

Intersectionality — the notion that different social identities, such as race, class and gender are interconnected and shape one's experiences — was emphasized in Detroit as sister rallies took place in cities across Michigan and the United States.

The rally at the museum in Midtown Detroit drew a diverse crowd advocating for such issues as gender and racial equality, LGBT rights, rights for the disabled, the government shutdown, clean water, healthcare reform, gun law reform and more.

Bridget Huff, of Fort Gratiot, came to the Women's March with her husband, daughters and 5-year-old son.

Her daughters, Taylor Habedank, 18 and Eva Huff, 13, carried signs that read:

"If one man can destroy everything, why can't one girl change it? – Malala" and "Until there are 9 – RBG"

The latter is a reference to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her thoughts on how many women should be serving on the court.

Huff said her daughters worked on Abdul El-Sayed's 2018 campaign, and the former gubernatorial hopeful has since become a family friend and introduced the family to supporting Tlaib's successful campaign for U.S. Congress.

"Equality has to be intersectional, we have to listen to women of color, we have to listen to the LGBT community," Huff said.

Nicole Denson, of Women's March Michigan, took to the podium for opening remarks.

"You endured the snow, you came here and you're taking a stance," she said.

"We are here today to bring unity, diversity (and) inclusion. We stand together refusing to allow people to derail this movement."

Denson added that Women's March Michigan is committed to having hard conversations, leaning into conflict and holding one another accountable.

A number of elected officials were on the speakers line-up, including Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence and more.

El-Sayed also spoke, alongside a number of local activists and leaders of advocacy groups, such as Michigan United, Mothering Justice and Monica Lewis Patrick, the Water Warrior.

Referencing the number of women that have taken office in Michigan, Benson told the crowd, "...we have a sisterhood in Lansing."

"You all have had a true impact in changing the voice of power in this state," Benson added.

Sen. Stabenow spoke of the importance of the "beautiful, powerful museum" on the weekend before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

"[King] would be 90 years old, and boy he'd be right here," she said.

Stabenow also spoke about tchallenges facing the United States and added that there is great hope when people are engaged.

"We need to open our government and open our government services. And when we talk about security for our families, which we want, let's start with economic security. Let's start with healthcare security. Let's have clean water security, let's have equal protection and security for our civil rights. And yes, let's have border security and no wall."

Cheers followed as the crowd chanted: "No wall, no wall, no wall..."

Local activists who addressed the crowd spoke about an array of issues, such as disability-justice advocacy, rights for people in prison and getting a greater diversity of women to run for office.

Karyn Burbank, of Ferndale, told the Free Press that she and her sister planned to attend the Women's March in Washington, D.C., but their plans changed due to the snowy weather.

"We felt it was important to still come stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all of the women of Detroit and show our solidarity to stand up for what's right. Women's rights, human rights, equal rights for everybody," Burbank said.

"Stand up and be counted, or sit down and be nothing."

Jeynce Poindexter of Equality Michigan and the Women's March Michigan told the crowd she appreciated the Women's March efforts to include the voices of black trans women and other dismissed voices.

"Each speaker here today was hand-picked by us because it was our intention to include everyone. From a Jewish aspect, from a black aspect, from a transwoman aspect, from a white woman's aspect. This is about togetherness, and we hope that today was a mirror of diversity that makes you happy, that makes you feel included and that makes you a part of it."

Contact Aleanna Siacon at ASiacon@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @AleannaSiacon.