Each “flashmob” saw fans, largely clad in Black Widow cosplay or red-haired wigs to declare their affiliation for all things Romanoff, waving signs and letting people know about their goals. Speaking to The Mary Sue, campaigner Kristen Reilly hoped that the event would encourage fans to let their opinions be heard:

I hope that this is the beginning of a more inclusive superhero universe for future movies and merchandise. I hope that the companies making awesome movies and fantastic toys and clothes realize that they can do even more because they have a bigger demographic than they originally thought. And I hope this inspires more geek girls to stand up and continue to have a strong and positive voice for inclusion in our community.

The debate around Black Widow and other female heroes in the superhero movie extragavanza we’re in the middle of has come a long way, and events like this are a pretty major step in fans attempting to get through to Marvel and its merchandise partners. But with the likes of Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman movies on the horizon, it’s a debate that won’t be going away any time soon, either.

[The Mary Sue via The Guardian]