13-year-old Riley Villazor carries cheeky placard at Women’s March

‘I wish I could say it was original.’ Photo by Rose Villazor

‘I wish I could say it was original.’ Photo by Rose Villazor

By Cristina Dc Pastor

Riley Villazor, a 7th grade student at East Side Middle School on 91st Street, found herself engulfed by a sea of protesting women who marched on January 20 over issues such as violence against women, immigration, and wage gap.

She was with her mother Rose Villazor, a law professor, and her mother’s friends who came with their daughters. Riley’s placard attracted a lot of attention and caught the eye of Corey Johnson, the new Speaker of the New York City Council. It read: VOLDEMORT IS PRESIDENT, LET’S BE A NATION OF HERMIONES.

At the rally, marchers came up to Riley asking where she came up with the idea and if they could snap photos. She said the idea was inspired by online taunts that compare Donald Trump to Voldemort should he become President. She was surprised by all the attention. “It hasn’t happened before,” she chuckled.

“I wish I could say it was original,” said a thrilled Riley when interviewed by The FilAm at her home. “I just rewrote it.”

With Council Speaker Corey Johnson (far left) and Council Member Margaret Chin. Photo by NYC Council

With Council Speaker Corey Johnson (far left) and Council Member Margaret Chin. Photo by NYC Council

Another eye-catching placard was carried by her friend. It read: GIRLS ROCK & RULE

New York-born Riley, a bubbly girl who plays the violin and acts in school musicals, said there were many issues she could see herself supporting, but stressed the importance of fighting sexism. She conceded it is not an issue she is confronted with right now, but she has seen so many women come forward with stories of how they endured sexual harassment in sports, in film, in the ordinary workplace.

Corey Johnson and his staff asked to be photographed with Riley and her placard. With them in the photo was Council Member Margaret Chin. The Speaker spoke to Riley, asking if this was her first time to join a rally. “Cool poster,” he said before parting.

Last Saturday’s protest march was not Riley’s first. She and her older sister Reese joined their mother at the first Women’s March last year. Reese couldn’t go this year because she was studying for her school finals.

The Villazors at home. From left, Rose, Reese, Riley and Rodney. The FilAm Photo

The Villazors at home. From left, Rose, Reese, Riley and Rodney. The FilAm Photo

Riley and Reese — who is a year and seven months older — are the daughters of lawyers Rodney Villazor and law Professor Rose Cuison Villazor. Previously a federal prosecutor, Rodney has his private practice, Smith Villazor, LLP, where he represents companies and executives in white collar criminal cases. Rose teaches at the University of California-Davis and will be teaching at Rutgers School of Law in Newark in the Fall.

The sisters are active in school. (Reese is a freshman at Bronx High School for Science.) They do well in the classroom and still participate in extracurricular activities, such as the Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA).

“We promote a safe community for the LGBT in school, we help raise funds for the AIDS Walk, we donate clothes and gift cards,” explained Riley on the kind of activities they do at GSA. The girls are somewhat exposed to LGBT issues because they have family friends who are gay.

In the Villazor household, the children are encouraged to express their opinions and, as could be expected when both your parents are lawyers, to defend them. The girls read a lot books, and they are now starting to appreciate non-fiction, said their father. Riley dove right into history with a book on the Vietnam War.

© The FilAm 2018

With older sister Reese. The FilAm Photo

With older sister Reese. The FilAm Photo



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