Thousands descend on Washington to protest Trump presidency

Rasa - Hundreds of thousands of people from across the United States are descending on Washington to voice their anger and anxiety over Donald Trump’s presidency a day after he took the oath of office.

News ID: 426703

Date: 21 January 2017 - 19:25

RNA - The Women’s March on Washington, which organizers say could attract a quarter of a million people on Saturday, seeks to raise awareness of women's rights and other civil rights, that many Americans fear could be under threat by the new president.

Trump angered many at home and abroad by repeatedly making disparaging remarks about women, Muslims and immigrants during his bombastic presidential campaign.

The Women’s March, which began with a Facebook call by a Hawaiian grandmother in the aftermath of Trump’s election victory in November, is predicted to become one of the largest political demonstrations ever seen in the US capital.

Organizers said demonstrators are going to Washington on their own, using buses and trains from distant locations.

“We will witness one of the largest and most significant demonstrations for social justice in America’s 240-year history,” said Crystal Hoyt, an associate dean at the University of Richmond.

“By stoking and exploiting fear, Trump mobilized deep-seated sexism, racism, and xenophobia to gain political traction,” she added.

The march comes the day after Washington was rocked by violent protest against Trump, highlighting the depth of frustration in a deeply divided country unseen in decades.

Washington police said they arrested at least 217 people on Friday, accusing them of acts of vandalism and destruction of property. Officers in riot gear used pepper spray, tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

Trump defeated his Democrat rival, Hillary Clinton, on November 8 and took to the oval office on Friday.

Alongside with the Women’s March on Washington, more than 600 "sister marches" have been planned around the United States. Some of the largest rallies are expected to be held in Boston, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Law enforcement authorities will be on alert for any new flare-up of violence.

Anti-Trump protests sweep world

Thousands of people are also marching through the British capital, London, to show solidarity with those who are gathering for the main march in Washington.

Demonstrators were marching from the US embassy in London's Grosvenor Square, to Trafalgar Square on Saturday.

Similar protests are also taking place across the UK in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol and Shipley.

At least 700 sister marches are planned around the world on Saturday. Women in more than 30 other countries are set to take to the streets to march against Trump.

Rallies by women have already taken place in New Zealand, Australia, and Japan.

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