Today a half a million men and women are part of the Women’s March on Washington is in full swing around the country.
Nearly half a million women have descended on the nation’s capital and other cities around the globe Today’s Woman’s March on Washington is aimed at showing, new President Donald Trump, as well as the Republicans and Democrats in Congress that they won’t be silent over the next four years.
March organizers’ “mission and vision” statement never mentions Trump and stresses broad themes, including the message that “women’s rights are human rights,” the unifying factor among those turning out appeared to be a feeling that the new president and Congress, want to in some cases to limit if not totally take their rights.
There are also more than 600 “sister marches” planned around the United States, with some of the biggest expected in Boston, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
The Women’s March on Washington will rival yesterday’s crowd that showed up for President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The march organizers have stressed that this will be a “very peaceful,” show of protest.
This is not just a Washington protest and it wasn’t just women, with plenty husband’s, boyfriend’s and sons will be on hand showing their support. More than 600 “sister marches” are taking place across the country from New York to Los Angeles, as well as around the world from London to Sydney.
The march attracted significant support from celebrities. America Ferrara led the artists’ contingent, and those scheduled to speak in Washington included Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Judd, Melissa Harris-Perry and Michael Moore. The promised performance lineup included Janelle Monae, Maxwell, Samantha Ronson, the Indigo Girls and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Cher, Katy Perry and Julianne Moore all are in Washington.
Here is the rundown of today’s activities.
The event kicks off at 10am with a rally on the corner of 3rd St and Independence Ave.
Speakers will include Cecile Richards from reproductive health organisation Planned Parenthood, activists Angela Davis and Gloria Steinem, actresses Ashley Judd and Scarlett Johansson, filmmaker Michael Moore and the “Mothers of the Movement”, a group of mothers whose children died because of violence by the police or gun violence.
Janelle Monáe, The Indigo Girls and Angelique Kidjo are among the musical acts scheduled to perform.
At 1.15pm the march will begin down Independence Ave to 14th St SW, then it will head to the Ellipse and the Washington Monument, where the event will finish at 4pm.
Some quotes used in this story were from ASSOCIATED PRESS and the video from CNN.
