Largest protest immediately after Trump's inauguration

The Women's March is a protest expected to attract more than 100,000 people, taking place the day after Donald Trump's inauguration, sending a message of feminism to the new administration.

Parade organizers. Photo: Washington Post.

Teresa Shook never considered herself an activist or a feminist, but as the presidential election results became clear, the retired lawyer from Hawaii took to Facebook to ask: What if women organized a large-scale protest march in Washington near Trump's inauguration?

Shook said she got the idea after seeing a man who bragged about sexually harassing women like Mr. Trump win and female candidate Hillary Clinton lose.She created a Facebook event page for the march,By the time she went to bed, 40 women had responded that they would participate.When she woke up, the number had risen to 10,000.

More than 100,000 people have now registered to attend the Women's March on Washington on January 21, which is expected to be the largest protest linked to Donald Trump's inauguration and a focal point for left-wing activists opposing his agenda.

Organizers say plans are moving along well, having received permits from Washington DC police to gather 200,000 people near the Capitol building the morning after Trump’s inauguration. The size of the march is still unknown, as organizers scramble to secure remaining permits and raise $1 million to $2 million, as well as prepare logistical equipment such as sound systems and portable toilets.

While the march was initially organized by Shook and a few amateurs, the preparations were later handed over to a group of veteran female activists from New York, including Mallory, a gun control activist; Linda Sarsour, executive director of the Arab American Society of New York; Carmen Perez, head of the criminal reform organization Focus on Justice; and Bob Bland, a fashion entrepreneur.

The marchers were concerned with a range of issues, from immigration rights to police killings of African Americans. But at the heart of it was the demand for equal rights for women, following Clinton's defeat.

“We plan to make a bold and clear statement to this country at the national and local level that we will not be silent and we will not allow anyone to roll back the rights that we have fought and struggled for,” said Tamika Mallory, one of the organizers.

Participants

Organizers insist the march is not about anti-Trump but about sending a strong message to the new administration on its first day in office, even though many in the group are fiercely opposed to his agenda.

The marchers seemed less interested in politics and more focused on calling for better family policies, equal pay for women and maternity rights. Some said they simply wanted to protest the way Mr. Trump talks about women.

Lindsey Shriver, a 27-year-old former pastry chef, said she was offended by Mr Trump's comments, which she described as "misogynistic". She also wanted to highlight the need for paid family leave and affordable child care.

“I realized that just fighting for feminism in my personal life wasn't going to be enough for my daughter,” Shriver said.

Caroline Rule, 57, a lawyer who lives in Manhattan, said she would attend the event with her 15-year-old daughter. While she agreed with the pro-women message of the march, she said she could attend any march that opposed Mr. Trump’s message.

“I absolutely despise Donald Trump and all of his views,” she said.

Meanwhile, Trump Inaugural Committee spokesman Boris Epshteyn defended the president-elect’s image among women. While he did not receive a majority of the female vote, he still received a lot of them, Epshteyn said.

“We are ready to listen to their concerns,” he added.

According to VNE