New York, Jan 21 (AFP) Protestors took to the streets enmasse across the United States, hoisting anti-Donald Trumpplacards, banging drums and donning pink hats for a secondWomen's March opposing the president -- one year to the day ofhis inauguration.
Hundreds of thousands of marchers assembled inWashington, New York, Chicago, Denver, Boston, Los Angeles andother cities nationwide, many donning the famous pink knit"pussy hats" -- a reference to Trump's videotaped boasts ofhis license to grope women without repercussions.
Protestors hoisted signs emblazoned with slogans like"Fight like a girl" and "A woman's place is in the WhiteHouse" and "Elect a clown, expect a circus."The Los Angeles mayor said estimated turnout in the citywas 500,000, while New York police estimated about 200,000protesters.
In Manhattan, a diverse crowd descended on Central ParkWest, the avenue that borders the city's beloved park andarrives at the foot of the Trump International Hotel -- partof the magnate-turned-commander-in-chief's real estate empire.
"We live in an alternate universe -- it is so bad," saidAlthea Fusco, 67, who traveled to the city from upstate NewYork with two neighbors.
"I see an erosion of democracy," she said.
Speakers at the New York rally included activist andactress Rosie Perez and entertainer Whoopi Goldberg, whoemphasized that "we are here to say -- as women -- we're nottaking it anymore."Throngs of demonstrators paraded in Los Angeles, whereactress Natalie Portman was among the celebrities pumping upthe crowd: "Because of you the revolution is rolling."The marches aim to build on the movement launched lastyear when more than three million people turned out nationwideto voice opposition to Trump.
The weekend of demonstrations is aimed at translatingenthusiasm into political action with the theme "Power to thePolls" -- a message designed to drive voter registrations andmaximize women's involvement in the 2018 midterm elections.
The president meanwhile posted a deadpan tweetreferencing the rallies protesting his policies, urging peopleto "get out there and celebrate the historic milestones andunprecedented economic success and wealth creation that hastaken place over the last 12 months.""Beautiful weather all over our great country, a perfectday for all Women to March," he wrote.
Many of the demonstrations indeed took place under sunnyskies but marchers in Park City, Utah -- where the annualSundance Film Festival is underway -- braved chillytemperatures and steady snow to make their voices heard, ledby celebrities including activist and actress Jane Fonda.
This year's edition of Sundance took on a political bentin light of the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct, acampaign that has rippled through Hollywood and beyond sincescores of actresses leveled sexual assault allegations againstdisgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Crowds in the North Carolina city of Charlotte heard anaddress from its first black female mayor, while Washingtonprotestors rallied at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial andmarched to the White House, speaking out on a raft of issuesranging from immigrant protections to racial equality tosexual assault.
"We feel like our work isn't done and that there's somuch more that we need to fix," said Tanaquil Eltson, 14, whoalso participated in Washington's 2017 march.
"I know the world around me isn't happy colors; it'sscary. But I'm excited to be able to fix it," she said, cladin a red and blue Superwoman outfit.
Her mother Vitessa Del Prete, a retired US armylieutenant colonel, pointed to the recent flood of sexualabuse and harassment allegations against powerful men that hasgalvanized women to fight back against injustice.
"I've lived through decades of sexual harassment issuesand it's getting better -- but it's nowhere near where itneeds to be," the 51-year-old said, sporting a Wonder Womancostume in coordination with her daughter.
"Issues that face women are just not being representedwell enough in our country, so it's a privilege to be able toget out here and try to do something from a citizenstandpoint."More than 300 towns and cities had organized anniversarymarches and rallies. Other protests are set for Sunday,notably in Las Vegas, as well as in several European citiesincluding Berlin.
"We cannot rest," said Pam Morris in Washington. "We haveto keep energized until we overcome this administration.""We cannot get worn down. We have to be here." (AFP)AJR.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.