Legions of women flooded parks, streets and city squares from Sydney to Paris to Philadelphia on Saturday, marching in solidarity as a show of empowerment and a stand against Donald Trump.
More than 600 “sister marches” were planned across the country and abroad in conjunction with the Women’s March on Washington, which drew hundreds of thousands to the nation’s capital a day after Trump became president of the United States.
Here’s a look at some of the other rallies around the world:
PARIS
Several thousand people, including many American workers and students living in France, gathered in Paris for the Women’s March.
Protesters marched in the Eiffel Tower neighborhood in a joyful atmosphere, singing and carrying posters reading: “We have our eyes on you Mr. Trump,” “With our sisters in Washington”, “Women’s rights are human rights”.
Anne Tiracchia, from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was on vacation in France where her son lives. She wrote in French “Let us resist the catastrophe” on a U. S. flag.
“It’s important because Trump wants to destroy 50 years of progress, he wants to go back to smoke coming out of factories and women staying home and having babies,” she said. “He won’t change. He doesn’t care. But we have to show we don’t agree with him”.
More than 40 feminist and anti-racist groups organized the Paris march.
NEW YORK
Demonstrators crammed near Trump World tower for the Women’s March on New York City say the new president may be from there — but he’s no New Yorker.
“New York is a community in itself, and people care about each other, and it’s diverse,” said Ashia Badi, 44, who brought her two daughters to Midtown Manhattan to march in protest of Trump. “He doesn’t feel like he has those New York values I see. ”
New York City and state overwhelmingly voted for Hillary Clinton.
On Saturday, thousands of people donning pink knit hats held signs that read “Women’s rights are human rights” and “Putin’s puppet. ”
Patricia Palermo, one of six women wearing surgical masks that say “save the ACA” (Affordable Care Act) said she would fight Trump’s effort to eviscerate the law. She said she met the president once doing real estate.
New Yorkers know Trump, she said. “That’s why most New Yorkers are against him. We’ve seen him in person. ”
SYDNEY
Demonstrators flooded a popular central Sydney park carrying placards with slogans including “Women of the world resist,” “Feminism is my trump card” and “Fight like a girl. ”
Organizer Mindy Freiband told the crowd hatred, bigotry and racism are not only America’s problems.
“This is the beginning of something, not the end,” she said.
Protester Alyssa Smith, who came 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 the world “where hatred is commonplace, where people think it’s OK to persecute minorities. ”
Charlotte Wilde said she shed tears watching Trump get 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 rally was a way to feel empowered.
A plane was seen skywriting “TRUMP” over the rally.
Skywriting Australia owner Rob Vance said the sign was commissioned by Trump fans who wanted to remain anonymous.
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY
Holding a handmade sign that read “Girls just want to have fundamental rights,” Mary Morrisey, 35, of Trenton, said she attended the march in her hometown to show support for America and its people.
“We may go about things differently, but we all want the same thing: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” she said.
Morrisey said she didn’t mind standing out in the chilly, damp conditions because this was an opportunity to make things better for people across the nation, especially LGBT people and minorities.
Noting the large turnout, she said she had already made some new friends who plan to start an online group to spread the word about the march’s goals and what can be done in the future.
“It’s great that we come together to show the strength of our beliefs, but this can’t just be a one-day thing,” she said. “It’s something we need to do every day, even if it’s just talking with someone about it. ”
YANGON, MYANMAR
Dozens attended a “solidarity picnic” in Yangon organized by Alyssa Paylor of Colorado and other U. S. expats.
“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 motivated people to get involved.
“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.
PRAGUE
Hundreds gathered in freezing weather in a busy city square in the Czech capital, waving portraits of Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin and holding banners that read “This is just the beginning,” “Kindness” and “Love. ”
“We are worried about the way some politicians talk, especially during the American elections,” organizer Johanna Nejedlova said.
