WASHINGTON – Tens of thousands of women are set to march on Washington DC on Saturday, January 21, one days after violent protests erupted on the day of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The Washington march organizers said: “The rhetoric of the past election cycle has insulted, demonized, and threatened many of us,” The Irish Independent reported.
“The women’s march on Washington will send a bold message to our new government on their first day in office, and to the world that women’s rights are human rights.”
Women’s marches are being planned in places across America including Los Angeles and Park City, Utah, while similar events will be staged in London and Edinburgh.
The Washington rally is expected to be attended by more than 200 progressive groups, which represent varied fields, including environment, legal abortion, prisoners’ rights, voting rights, a free press, affordable healthcare, gun safety, racial and gender equality and a higher minimum wage.
Hollywood celebrities announced their plans to attend the rally including former Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman who said she will take part in the Washington march with her two daughters, her sister and her niece.
“I feel that the election was somewhat of a feminist issue. I feel like the best of us was bested by not the best of them,” she told The Press Association.
Ugly Betty star America Ferrera, who is helping organize the Washington protest, and Oscar-winning actress Patricia Arquette will also take part in the event.
Protests have already started in Sydney, Australia, after thousands of people gathered on Saturday to march through the city.
“We’re doing this because we don’t want to stand by and let the bigotry rhetoric of Donald Trump prevail,” Ayebatonye Abrakasa told Al Jazeera.
“Today we’re standing up for our country, for the rights of the indigenous people, for the rights of the refugees who have been held unfairly at Manus and Nauru islands, for the rights of women who deserve to be able to own their own bodies. We’re fighting for everyone, this is an all-inclusive event.”
On Friday, six police officers were injured and 217 protesters arrested after a morning of peaceful protests and coordinated disruptions of Trump’s inauguration ceremony gave way to ugly street clashes in downtown Washington.
Anti-Trump protests also broke out Friday in US cities, including New York, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago and Portland, Oregon. Authorities in Seattle say one person was in critical condition at a hospital with a gunshot wound. Demonstrations also took place overseas in Hong Kong, Berlin and London.