USA TODAY International Edition
Women’s march takes D. C. by storm
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More than 2 million people across the world, led by hundreds of thousands who overwhelmed the nation’s capital, protested the first full day of President Trump’s tenure Saturday.
What began as a Facebook post by a Hawaii grandmother the day after Hillary Clinton’s loss in November’s election blossomed into a sweeping protest uniting people of all ages, races and religions who crowded downtown Washington. They called for a “revolution” as a bulwark against the new administration and the Republican- led Congress they fear will roll back reproductive, civil and human rights.
A five- hour rally featured such speakers as Ilyasah Shabazz, a daughter of Malcom X; Sister Simone Campbell, a Catholic nun; and the music superstar Madonna. People arrived in buses or flew across the country to bring the main arteries of downtown Washington to a near standstill.
While the event’s organizers sought to highlight many concerns, including climate change and criminal justice reform, the speakers were united in imploring participants to begin taking action by donating to progressive causes and even running for public office once they return home.
“The revolution starts
“It’s about you going home after today and standing up and fighting in our communities.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D- Ill.
On the second day of Donald Trump’s presidency, demonstrations for women’s rights drew massive crowds in cities big and small. Some 670 marches in all 50 states and 32 countries — the largest taking place in the nation’s capital — were planned to send a message to the new president in protest of his agenda.
The crowds were so large in some cities that marching was nearly impossible. In Chicago, organizers halted the march and rallied at Grant Park instead as crowds swelled to 150,000, although thousands still marched.
Here’s a look at some:
LOS ANGELES At least 100,000 people were expected to join the 1- mile “Women’s March Los Angeles.” The theme: “Hear our voice.”
By 9: 30 a. m. PT, Pershing Square was filled with demonstrators carrying signs that refer- enced gender, reproductive rights, immigration and education.
Tricia Loper brought her children Zoe, 7, and Colton, 9. “It’s important that all of our children have a voice in the political system,” she said.
PHOENIX Crowds gathered outside the Arizona State Capitol before the Women’s March on Phoenix, expected to draw 20,000 people and be the state’s largest sister march to the Women’s March on Washington.
The atmosphere was upbeat, energetic and peaceful, with people laughing, taking selfies with handmade signs and dancing around a drum circle that boomed right by the front door to the state Senate.
“I don’t see this as anti- Trump but a unifying force for intelligent people who have strong beliefs,” said Lynne Avril, 65, who is the illustrator for the young- adult fiction Amelia Bedelia series. “This is a generator of activism, it gets people excited about showing what they believe in. This is the heart of the American people right here.”
CHICAGO In Grant Park, tens of thousands gathered for a rally that grew so large that organizers had to halt the planned short march through the city’s downtown.
Unseasonably warm weather appeared to help bolster attendance.
The Chicago Transit Authority added extra cars to the city’s L train service to help transport the mass of people. Still, the trains were packed to the gills.
Organizers, who projected more than 50,000 demonstrators, said the crowd appeared to have swelled to 150,000. It was held on the same site that former presi- dent Barack Obama used for his 2008 election night victory party.
Juanita Nicholson, 71, of suburban Winnetka, Ill., was attending her first demonstration of her life with friend Ruth Reagel, 85, who was attending her second protest.
ASHEVILLE, N. C. Pack Square was the epicenter of the march here, but the crowd of an estimated 10,000 pressed up against surrounding buildings and spilled into the sidewalk and streets.
Sarah Bender Hope and Nicholas Hope stood with their son, Solomon Hope, resting in a sling. The Hopes had medical issues on their minds, as Solomon was born less than 26 weeks into Sarah Hope’s pregnancy and would continue to have health needs, they said.
Sarah Hope works for Genova Diagnostics, a global clinical laboratory based in Asheville focused on the prevention of disease.
“I see really sick people and tests that they need to figure out what’s going on in their bodies to get healthy are not covered by insurance,” she said.
TRENTON, N. J. At the Ridgewood YWCA Saturday morning, 48 people planning to share a bus ride to the Women’s March on New Jersey in Trenton learned the charter bus would not be arriving. After waiting over an hour, organizers apologized and began lining up volunteer drivers.
“They said get in the car, we’re going, and here we are,” said Melanie Hazim of Saddle Brook, who carpooled with Melissa Carisi and others. They joined nearly 3,000 people inside the War Memorial theater listening to speeches and an estimated 3,000 outside, hearing speeches over a P. A. system.