Millions march against Trump
MORE THAN 600 GATHERINGS WORLDWIDE New US president attacks media for lying about attendance at his inauguration
More than 2 million people flooded the streets of Washington and other US cities and demonstrators around the world joined in as women opposed to Donald Trump led a peaceful, stunning rebuke against the new US president on Saturday.
As a sea of protesters brought Washington to a standstill, streaming past the White House in pink “pussyhats”, Trump launched a withering attack on the media, accusing it of downplaying or lying about the attendance at his swearing-in a day earlier.
The new president was certainly aware of the hundreds of thousands of people who poured into Washington and brought the downtown area near the White House and the national mall to a standstill for hours.
Although the US capital does not release crowd counts, organisers of the Women’s March on Washington said they estimated turnout at 1 million – quadrupling initial expectations – with huge crowds joining sister marches around the country.
More than 500 000 people also swarmed the streets of Los Angeles, according to police there, and a similar number gathered in New York. Other marches took place in Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, St Louis, Denver and elsewhere.
Roused by fiery speeches, the protesters sent out a resounding message of rebuke and resistance the day after the Republican hardliner took office with a vow to roll back the legacy of his predecessor.
“It feels amazing” to join women pushing back against Trump’s divisive, discriminating and threatening rhetoric, said 16-year-old Maria Iman, who travelled to Washington with high school students from Illinois.
“I’m part of history and one day will tell my children about this.”
A sea of women and men – teens, pensioners, parents with toddlers on their shoulders – swarmed the streets in a determined show of unity.
Teacher Tanya Gaxiola, 39, who flew in from Tucson, Arizona, expressed concern that Trump will seek to clamp down on women’s rights.
“He’s a narcissist and seeks approval and this is a big display of disapproval,” Gaxiola said. “Hopefully, it catches his attention.”
“Women won’t back down,” “Women’s rights are human rights” and “Thank you Trump – you turned me into an activist”, read some of the thousands of signs held aloft in the capital.
Saturday’s rallying cry was heard far beyond America’s shores, with organisers saying more than 2.5 million people signed up for one of more than 600 marches worldwide. – AFP