Thousands of mostly female demonstrators took to the streets of Washington DC on Saturday to rally against President-elect Donald Trump two days ahead of his inauguration.<\/p>\n
The People\u2019s March \u2013 previously known as the Women\u2019s March \u2013 has taken place every year since 2017.<\/p>\n
A coalition of groups organised the movement with the stated aim of confronting \u201cTrumpism\u201d, according to its website. Smaller protests against Trump were held in New York City and on the other side of the country in Seattle.<\/p>\n
The rallies coincide with Trump\u2019s arrival to the nation\u2019s capital for a series of weekend events in the lead-up to his swearing-in ceremony on Monday.<\/p>\n
Saturday\u2019s People\u2019s March in Washington DC drew smaller numbers than its predecessors.<\/p>\n
Organisers had expected 50,000 people. About 5,000 turned up.<\/p>\n
The protesters gathered at three parks before marching to the Lincoln Memorial for the rally.<\/p>\n
The groups behind the march are described on its website as holding \u201cintersecting identities\u201d and having \u201cvaried issue-based interests\u201d with different causes such as climate change, immigration and women\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n
Women who gathered in Washington to join the People\u2019s March told the BBC they had a variety of motivations.<\/p>\n
One protester, Brooke, said she wanted to show her support for abortion access.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really not happy with the way our country\u2019s voted,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m really sad that our country\u2019s leaned towards a president that\u2019s already failed us once and that we did not nominate a female candidate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another woman, Kayla, said it\u2019s a mix of emotions that brought her out to the streets of the nation\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, I\u2019m just mad, I\u2019m sad, I\u2019m overwhelmed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The first iteration of the People\u2019s March came together after Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016.<\/p>\n
Women called for a protest the day after Trump\u2019s first inauguration and hundreds of thousands responded.<\/p>\n
The movement spread beyond the nation\u2019s capital with millions of women across the US carrying signs railing against the Republican president and sporting pink knit \u201cpussy hats\u201d \u2013 a reference to a leaked tape in which Trump had bragged about grabbing women\u2019s genitals.<\/p>\n
The Women\u2019s March remained a key part of the so-called resistance to Trump\u2019s agenda in the years that followed.<\/p>\n
But none of the subsequent marches have been on the same scale.<\/p>\n
Trump, meanwhile, arrivedin Washington DC later on Saturday to begin his inaugural festivities with a private event featuring fireworks at his golf club in the Virginia suburbs.<\/p>\n
Organisers of the march said they aimed to confront Trump by \u201cdrawing on past successes and effective strategies against autocrats\u201d.<\/p>\n
A small group of Trump supporters were at the Washington Monument on Saturday. Noticing the men in red Make America Great Again hats, one People\u2019s March leader with a megaphone approached chanting: \u201cNo Trump, no KKK.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the men, Timothy Wallis, told the Associated Press news agency his friends had just bought the Trump hats from a street vendor.<\/p>\n
Mr Wallis, 58, of Pocatello, Idaho, said the People\u2019s March protesters had \u201cevery right\u201d to demonstrate, though he said he was confused by the rancour.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s sad where we\u2019re at as a country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Another protester the BBC spoke to, came to Washington specifically for the march.<\/p>\n
Susie came in from the San Francisco area to demonstrate with her sister, Anne, who lives nearby. They both attended the Women\u2019s March after Trump\u2019s first inauguration and came back in their \u201cpussy hats\u201d.<\/p>\n
Susie recalled the crowds of people in 2017. She said she hoped people would still take to the streets against Trump\u2019s policies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis time the stakes are higher,\u201d she said. \u201cTrump has been emboldened. He\u2019s got the billionaire class and the tech class bowing down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anne also said she recognised the protesters are \u201cout of touch\u201d with a lot of America. Trump won all seven swing states and the popular vote last November.<\/p>\n
But she added: \u201cWe\u2019re still here, and we will resist.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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