A sea of women in so-called “pussyhats” poured into the streets of downtown Washington DC on Saturday, painting the US capital pink, as they joined millions in sister rallies across the world to protest against US President Donald Trump on his first full day in office.
Women in pink "pussyhats" protest against Donald Trump in Washington DC on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
Women in pink "pussyhats" protest against Donald Trump in Washington DC on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
The Women’s March on Washington DC, initiated by Hawaiian Teresa Shook with a Facebook invite, came a day after Trump’s inauguration, when confrontations between anti-Trump protesters and the police led to over 200 arrests.
Saturday’s protests remained peaceful however.
Demonstrators take part in the Women's March to protest Donald Trump's inauguration as the 45th president of the United States near the US Capitol in Washington, January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
Demonstrators take part in the Women's March to protest Donald Trump's inauguration as the 45th president of the United States near the US Capitol in Washington, January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
Protesters on Saturday seemed to have outnumbered those supporters who had attended Trump’s inauguration the previous day. The Washington DC metro system reported 275,000 rides as of 11 a.m. on Saturday, far more than the 193,000 reported at the same time on Friday – shortly before the inauguration ceremony began – and eight times the normal Saturday volume, said Reuters.
Thousands of protesters wait to board metro trains after attending the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
Thousands of protesters wait to board metro trains after attending the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
Demonstrators wore pink “pussyhats” to mock Trump for his crude remarks made in a 2005 Access Hollywood tape that was leaked a month before the presidential election.
Armed with colorful signs and placards, they defended women’s issues like abortion, equal pay and healthcare for women, but also spoke up against sexual assault, police brutality, mass incarceration, voter suppression, immigrant rights and climate change. Abroad, concerns focused more on Trump’s protectionist rhetoric and his inaugural pledges to put "America First”.
Demonstrators protest on the National Mall in Washington DC, for the Women's March on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
Demonstrators protest on the National Mall in Washington DC, for the Women's March on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
Saturday’s protests followed a divisive election campaign in which Trump repeatedly disparaged women, minorities and immigrants.
In contrast to his predecessors, who generally experienced a honeymoon period after taking office, Trump has faced entrenched opposition from day one, entering the White House with the lowest approval rating since at least the 1970s, according to the Washington Post.
Democrat Hillary Clinton, whom Trump infamously branded a “nasty woman” during a presidential debate and who lost to him in the election, tweeted: “Thanks for standing, speaking & marching for our values @womensmarch. Important as ever. I truly believe we’re always stronger together.”
Trump neither responded to the march verbally nor on Twitter. The political impact of the march on his administration was not immediately clear on Saturday afternoon, when he addressed the CIA in Virginia.
US President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a visit to the Central Intelligence Agency in Virginia on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
US President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a visit to the Central Intelligence Agency in Virginia on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
Celebrities’ attendance
The mass protests featured a whole array of celebrities, including Madonna, Katy Perry, Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Judd and America Ferrera.
Actress Scarlett Johansson speaks during a protest on the National Mall in Washington, DC, for the Women's March on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
Actress Scarlett Johansson speaks during a protest on the National Mall in Washington, DC, for the Women's March on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
"Yes I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House, but I know that this won't change anything. We cannot fall into despair. We choose love," pop star Madonna addressed the Washington crowd.
Madonna performs at the Women's March in Washington, DC on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
Madonna performs at the Women's March in Washington, DC on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
"We march today for the moral core of this nation, against which our new president is waging a war," actress Ferrera also said.
Global protests
Not just in Washington DC, and not just with women, over 670 rallies were held nationwide and overseas on Saturday, from New York, Los Angeles and Chicago to London, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Tokyo and beyond.
A demonstrator carries a sign featuring former US President Barack Obama during a rally against Donald Trump in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
A demonstrator carries a sign featuring former US President Barack Obama during a rally against Donald Trump in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
In London, an estimated 100,000 people joined a two-mile march starting outside the US Embassy and ending with a rally in central Trafalgar Square.
Protesters carrying banners take part in the Women's March on London, in Trafalgar Square on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
Protesters carrying banners take part in the Women's March on London, in Trafalgar Square on January 21, 2017. /CFP Photo
In Sydney, about 3,000 people, including men and women, rallied in solidarity in Hyde Park before marching on the US consulate downtown.
The hashtag #WomenMarch was also trending on Twitter, with users posting pictures of protests and rallies as far as Malawi, Kenya, New Zealand and Mexico.
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