One year after hundreds of thousands of people participated in the 2017 Women’s March in cities across the United States and the world, rallygoers returned to Washington D.C., New York City, Los Angeles, and other major cities and towns to do the same. Organizers utilized websites and social media to plan marches across the country for Saturday, January 20th and Sunday, January 21st to commemorate the first anniversary of the 2017 marches. Adopting the hashtag #PowerToThePolls, participants subsequently gathered to mark one year since President Trump’s inauguration amid Friday night’s government shutdown.
According to Reuters, “Tens of thousands of protesters were expected to take” part in Saturday morning’s marches in major cities like Chicago and Washington D.C. Footage aggregated by CNN from local affiliates in Philadelphia, Charlotte, Denver, and elsewhere revealed already-massive crowds in these and other locations, waiting for their respective marches to begin or participating in rallies that were already in progress. As Women’s March board co-president Tamika Mallory put it to Reuters, “People were pretty damn mad last year and they’re pretty damn mad this year.”
Aside from Trump’s first year in office (and the current government shutdown), Mallory’s comment is further fleshed out by the New York Times‘ note that the Harvey Weinstein revelations and their aftermath are also a major influence:
A deluge of revelations about powerful men abusing women, leading to the #MeToo moment, has galvanized activists to demand deeper social and political change. And in the United States, progressive women are eager to translate their enthusiasm into electoral victories in this year’s midterm elections.
As the various marches in over 250 cities began, participants and the journalists covering them started tweeting stirring pictures and videos from the scenes.
People raising their hands and singing #womensmarchdc #womensmarch2018 pic.twitter.com/JEKajNPUp9
— Jessica Estepa (@jmestepa) January 20, 2018
Massive rally in Denver today for the #WomensMarch2018 #WomensMarch pic.twitter.com/bw3N8jUHrB
— Trevor Hughes (@TrevorHughes) January 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/Mandiblesat140/status/954765326650167296
These kids are ready to march for women’s rights and against racism #WomensMarch2018 pic.twitter.com/muQQWtvInc
— Emma Gray (@emmaladyrose) January 20, 2018
A staggering crowd at Sarasota’s March for Democracy #WomensMarch2018 pic.twitter.com/BK6rMh3dyU
— Ryan Callihan (@RCCallihan) January 20, 2018
Several celebrities who participated in the 2017 marches, including actress Alyssa Milano, returned again with messages of support.
You didn’t need to do this.
But you did.
So today…
I march for the dreamers you didn’t protect.
And the children you left vulnerable. #WhyIMarch #TrumpShutdown #PowerToThePolls #WomensMarch2018
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) January 20, 2018
(Via CNN, New York Times and Reuters)