CHICAGO (AP)—Legions of women flooded streets and city squares from Sydney to South Carolina on Saturday, marching in solidarity as a show of empowerment and a stand against Donald Trump.
More than 600 “sister marches’’ took place across the country and abroad in conjunction with the Women’s March on Washington, which drew hundreds of thousands of women and men to the capital a day after Trump became president of the United States.
Turnout was bigger than expected at some events. In Chicago, organizers canceled a march through downtown for safety reasons because so many people showed up, and instead extended a rally at a park.
Here’s a closer look at some of the events taking place around the world:
PARIS
Several thousand people, including many American workers and students living in France, gathered in the Eiffel Tower neighborhood in a joyful atmosphere.
They sang and carried posters with slogans such as “We have our eyes on you Mr. Trump’’ and “With our sisters in Washington.’’
“It’s important because Trump wants to destroy 50 years of progress,’’ said Anne Tiracchia, from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, who was on vacation in France where her son lives.
“He wants to go back to smoke coming out of factories and women staying home and having babies,’’ she said. “We have to show we don’t agree with him.’’
More than 40 feminist and anti-racist groups organized the Paris march.
LONDON
Samantha Moyo looked out at the tens of thousands of marchers sardined into Trafalgar Square with a look of contentment.
The 30-year-old Londoner, originally from Zimbabwe, was overwhelmed by the size of the crowd, and its determination to challenge Trump’s world view.
“I’m a Black, immigrant bisexual woman, and the fact that women all over the world are standing up for what they believe in, and that I was invited to be on the front line, feels like a huge privilege,’’ she said after helping to lead a march that snaked through central London, stopping traffic at times.
Moyo said she was initially worried about Trump’s policies but has come to believe he will inspire resistance.
Police described the event as peaceful with no arrests.
SYDNEY
Swarms of people gathered at a popular Sydney park carrying placards with slogans such as “Women of the world resist,’’ “Feminism is my trump card’’ and “Fight like a girl.’’
Alyssa Smith, who went to the rally with her husband and 2-year-old daughter, said she worried about the future after Trump’s election. She said she didn’t want her daughter growing up in a world “where hatred is commonplace.’’
Charlotte Wilde said she shed tears watching Trump being sworn in. The 33-year-old said the businessman’s rise to the presidency left her in a state of horror, and attending Saturday’s demonstration was a way to feel empowered.
A plane was seen skywriting “TRUMP’’ over the event. Skywriting Australia owner Rob Vance said the sign was commissioned by Trump fans who wanted to remain anonymous.
YANGON, MYANMAR
Dozens attended a “solidarity picnic’’ in Yangon organized by U.S. expats including Alyssa Paylor of Colorado.
“We’re not able to have a march in this climate, so we wanted to just gather together in solidarity with our sisters and brothers marching in Washington and all across the world because of what we believe in,’’ said Paylor, 26. She is in Myanmar working for an organization called Mote Oo Education for Curriculum Development.
Paylor said Trump’s election and the United Kingdom’s Brexit vote served as a wake-up call.
“I think these things have energized a lot of people and made many people, especially women, very angry about what they may have to deal with in the coming years,’’ she said.
ATHENS, GREECE
About 150 people gathered outside the U.S. embassy, then marched peacefully through the city center.
“We are in solidarity with the women in the United States,’’ said Petros Konstantinou, a Greek left-wing activist. “We stand against Trump because, for us, he represents war, sexism, racism and the greediness of multinationals.’’
A few dozen people also protested outside the U.S. Consulate in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, the country’s second-largest city. They unfurled a banner that read: “No to the planet ruler of war, racism, sexism and profit.’’
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