Over 20 countries see protests on the first day of Trump’s presidency
By Pierangelly Del Rio
A day after Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, hundreds of thousands of people attended the Women’s March in Washington. The event’s purpose, as stated on the official website, was to manifest peacefully supporting the rights of women, immigrants, LGBTQIA and people of colour among other repressed communities in America, which were “demonized” during President Trump’s 2016 campaign.
The organisers of the march originally expected an attendance of over 200,000 people. However, recent reports show that more than 500,000 united to march. The event, which culminated at Washington’s National Mall, reportedly gathered a bigger crowd than Trump’s inauguration party of an estimated of 250,000 attendees.
The March was not only limited to the American capital, as several cities joined forces including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta in what resulted the biggest manifestation in the US history, with an estimated of 2.9 million protesters.
Celebrities including Madonna, Emma Watson, Kristen Stuart, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Jake Gyllenhaal, Charlize Theron, Scarlett Johansson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, were among those showing their support.
Ugly Betty actress America Ferrera was one among those who gave a speech rejecting the new president’s discriminatory rhetoric: “He would like us to forget the words ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free'” she said. “(…) and instead take up a credo of hate, fear, and suspicion of one another. But we are gathered here and across the country and around the world today to say, Mr. Trump, we refuse.”
Over 20 countries all over the world also voiced their support for The Women’s March. In Europe, major cities such as Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Geneva, Budapest, Prague and Berlin reunited a considerable number of protesters.
In London, several feminists, environmental and anti-racism groups gathered among several bridges in the city including the Waterloo Bridge, London Bridge and Tower Bridge. In the former, a 25-metre banner reading “Build Bridges Not Walls” was dropped in rejection to Trump’s statement to build a wall on the Mexican border.
Protesters marched from Grosvenor Square to Trafalgar Square during London Women’s March. The police eventually blocked access to the square due to the large number of assistants, an estimated of 80,000 to 100,000. The event counted with the participation of London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan and his wife, as well as celebrities including Chris Robshaw and Rebecca Hall.
The president has not yet responded to several manifestations. During a visit to the CIA headquarters in Virginia, Trump failed to acknowledge the marches, instead turning his attention to the press, and claimed they were “shameful” and “dishonest” regarding the reports on the number of people who attended his inauguration.
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