Women's March Draws Huge Numbers Across The World

NEW DELHI: Hundreds of thousands of people came out in Washington DC on Saturday in what is being called a counter inauguration of sorts after President Donald Trump took office on Friday. Protesters made their way to the White House as part of the ‘Women March On Washington’ demonstration, that seeks to peacefully resist the attack on women’s rights, safety and health as put forth in the rhetoric of the previous election cycle.

The protesters were joined by people all over the world, as marches in solidarity took place in Chicago, Manhattan, Los Angeles, London, Sydney, Berlin, Nairobi, Cape Town -- to name just a few.


(Scenes from the march in Washington. The New York Times)

The mission of the event states, “The rhetoric of the past election cycle has insulted, demonized, and threatened many of us - immigrants of all statuses, Muslims and those of diverse religious faiths, people who identify as LGBTQIA, Native people, Black and Brown people, people with disabilities, survivors of sexual assault - and our communities are hurting and scared. We are confronted with the question of how to move forward in the face of national and international concern and fear.

In the spirit of democracy and honoring the champions of human rights, dignity, and justice who have come before us, we join in diversity to show our presence in numbers too great to ignore. The Women’s March on Washington will send a bold message to our new government on their first day in office, and to the world that women's rights are human rights. We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us.

We support the advocacy and resistance movements that reflect our multiple and intersecting identities. We call on all defenders of human rights to join us. This march is the first step towards unifying our communities, grounded in new relationships, to create change from the grassroots level up. We will not rest until women have parity and equity at all levels of leadership in society. We work peacefully while recognizing there is no true peace without justice and equity for all.”

The event started as a Facebook post after the election, but quickly swelled into a global movement of resistance. In Washington, Activists and feminist icons were part of the event in a show of support. Gloria Steinem told women in the crowd to get to know each other personally; America Ferrera reminded the protesters that the Cabinet or the President do not represent America… “We are America” she said. Actors Ashley Judd and Scarlett Johannson addressed the crowd. Filmmaker Michael Moore was present.


(Protester at the march in Washington. Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton -- who was not expected to attend the march -- tweeted in support.


The numbers attending the march are huge. Estimates put the protesters in New York City at 400,000; St. Paul police issued an official crowd count of 50,000 to 60,000 people; Boston drew almost 200,000 people; Atlanta Police Department estimated about 60,000 people attended a rally there; and in Washington, at least 500,000 people were present. The numbers across the world were equally impressive, making the women’s march one of the largest public demonstrations in recent memory.


(Protesters at the march in Washington. Getty Images)


(Protesters at the March in New York. Getty Images)


(Protesters at the March in LA. Getty Images)


(Protesters at the March in Chicago. Getty Images)


(Protesters at the march in Boston. Getty Images)


(Protesters at the march in London. Getty Images)


(Protesters at the march in Paris. Getty images)


(Protesters at the march in Berlin. Getty images)