Women’s protests enter second day

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida — Demonstrations in support of female empowerment are scheduled on Sunday, a day after hundreds of thousands of people across the globe marched, chanted and protested.

Marches are due to take place in several cities, including Miami, Melbourne and Munich.

On Saturday, many not only supported women’s rights, but also denounced US President Donald Trump’s views on immigration, abortion, LGBT rights and women’s rights on the anniversary of his inauguration.

The 2017 rally in Washington, and hundreds of similar marches, created solidarity for those opposing Trump. Millions of people around the world marched during last year’s rallies.

Participants on Saturday talked about the news avalanche of politics and gender issues in the past year. They said they were galvanized by the #MeToo movement, which has been credited as countering widespread sexual abuse and misconduct.

Critics of the weekend’s marches said the demonstrations were really a protest against Trump.

“It’s just so important for all the people to show support for all the people that are just trying to defend our rights ... we have an administration that looks like it’s really adamant about rolling back people’s civil rights now more than ever before,” a protester named Janel Fersythe said.

In New York, Andrea Hagelgans, a senior advisor to the mayor, tweeted that the official turnout was more than 120,000.

Meanwhile, Trump on Saturday tweeted that it was a “perfect day” for women to march to celebrate the “economic success and wealth creation” that’s happened during his first year in office.

In Los Angeles, Eva Longoria, Natalie Portman, Viola Davis, Alfre Woodard, Scarlett Johansson, Constance Wu, Adam Scott and Rob Reiner were among the celebrities who addressed a crowd estimated at 600,000.

Women’s March 2018 is part of a worldwide protest to advocate legislation and policies regarding women’s rights, immigration reform, health care reform and racial equality.

It came less than 24 hours after the US government shut down and around Trump’s oneyear inauguration anniversary.

EDUARDO MUNOZ / REUTERS People dressed as a wall take part in the Women’s March in Manhattan in New York City on Saturday. Further marches were due to take place in cities across the world on Sunday.