
OTTAWA (CP) — Thousands of people from all across the United States gathered in the nation's capital on Saturday to support women's reproductive rights and other causes they believe are vulnerable to being undermined by Donald Trump's incoming administration, mirroring the first Women's March just prior to President-elect Trump's second inauguration.

Eight years after the first pivotal Women's March to take place at the start of Trump's initial term in office, participants in the event stated that they were rattled by Trump's electoral victory and are now resolute in their determination to demonstrate the enduring strength of support for women's access to abortion, for trans individuals, for addressing climate change and other key issues.

Scheduled into the inauguration on Monday, this is one of a number of protests, rallies and vigils focused on abortion rights, immigration rights and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Across the country, more than 350 similar demonstrations are set to take place in each and every provincial jurisdiction.
Jill Parrish of Austin, Texas, originally bought a plane ticket for Washington, thinking it was for the inauguration of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. She later changed the dates to attend the inauguration of Trump. Parrish explained that she wanted to make it known that half of the voters in the US did not support Trump.
“Most importantly, I’m here to show my concern about the state of our democracy," Parrish said.
Demonstrators gathered in plazas across the Washington area in anticipation of the march, beating drums and shouting slogans while bundled up beneath a dull grey sky and biting wind. Protesters then moved on to the Lincoln Memorial for a larger protest and festival, where regional, state, and national groups were staffing information booths.

They carried signs with messages such as, “Save the Country” and “If you oppose abortions, don’t get one” and “Hatred will not prevail.”
There were brief moments of tension between protesters and Trump supporters. The march came to a standstill for a short time when a man wearing a MAGA hat and a green camouflage backpack entered into a line of demonstrators at the front. Police stepped in and peacefully separated him from the crowd as marchers yelled out "We won't take the bait."
As the protesters neared the Washington Monument, a small group of gentlemen wearing MAGA caps heading in the opposite direction caught the attention of a protest leader wielding a megaphone. The leader veered closer to the group and began shouting “No Trump, no KKK” through the megaphone. The groups were separated by a barrier of high, black fencing, and police officers soon formed a perimeter around the area.

Rick Glatz, from Manchester, New Hampshire, said he came to Washington for the benefit of his four granddaughters: “I’m a grandpa. And that’s why I’m marching.”
Sarah from a high school in Minnesota was wearing her one-of-a-kind pink "pussy hat" the same kind she'd worn to the 2017 Women's March, an event that illustrated the widespread shock and frustration many felt after Donald Trump's election victory.
With Trump being back in the picture now, so to speak, "I just wanted to be around fellow members who share my views on a day of great significance," Bergman said.
— as part of an effort to foster greater support, particularly during a period of reflection for progressive movements following Trump's decisive win last November. The Republican assumes office on Monday.

Organized large protest gatherings in cities across the nation, developing the foundation of a grassroots movement referred to as the Women's March. The Washington rally alone brought out over 500,000 participants, and millions more took part in local rallies nationwide, making it one of the single-largest one-day demonstrations in U.S. history.
This year, the turnout was significantly lower than the anticipated 50,000 participants, already a tenth of the size of the inaugural march. The demonstration occurs during a period of tempered introspection, as many progressive voters grapple with feelings of fatigue, disillusionment, and hopelessness following Harris' defeat.
"Before we tackle the issue of democracy, we need to address our own feelings of desperation," said one of the event's first speakers, Rachel O'Leary Carmona, executive director of Women's March.

The stark contrast with the initial rally's tension stands out as massive crowds made angry protests with megaphones and marched while wearing pink hats, responding to Trump's first election victory.
As the managing director at the Women’s March, Tamika Middleton said, "The reality is that it's tough to bottle lightning." She added, "This was a one-in-a-time event. Back in 2017, a Trump presidency and its extreme negativity were unprecedented.

The movement fell apart after the huge success of the protests that took place due to claims it wasn't inclusive enough. This year's overhaul that turned it into a People's March aimed to make the group more appealing to more people. The recent demonstration focused on issues like women's rights, racial equality, ending military influence and other social justice concerns, and it ended with discussions hosted by various social justice groups.

The People’s March is unique in that it encompasses a wide range of topics all under one unifying banner, noted Jo Reger, a sociology professor from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, who specializes in the study of social movements. Women’s suffrage marches, as an example, were specifically focused on the issue of obtaining the right to vote.

For a widespread social justice movement like the march, conflicting ideas obviously won't go away, and “immense pressure” is on organizers to cater to every group's needs, Reger said. However, she noted that some disagreement isn't necessarily a negative thing.

“Frequently, it makes a difference and introduces fresh viewpoints, particularly those of underrepresented individuals,” Reger said.

Middleton, with the Women's March, mentioned that an extremely large protest like the one in 2017 isn't the aim of the event on Saturday. The event's focus is on a range of problems - women's and reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, immigration, climate and democracy - rather than keeping the focus more limited on Trump.

“We're not looking at the march as the final solution,” Middleton said. “How do we get those people who attend the march into community organizations and into their political parties so they can continue fighting in their communities over the long term?”
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Associated Press writers Gary Fields, Ellen Knickmeyer along with Mike Pesoli assisted with this report.

Lindsay Whitehurst, Ashraf Khalil and Christine Fernando, The Associated Press





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