Thousands of women from across the US, many wearing bright pink hats, today poured in the nation's capital to protest against Donald Trump's allegedly anti-women views, just a day after the billionaire Republican was sworn in as 45th US President.
With banners and posters like "women rights are human rights," hundreds and thousands of women protesters poured in downtown Washington, and were joined by several lawmakers including Indian-American Ami Bera.
The Washington march, expected to attract around one million people, was just one of a series of marches planned across major world capitals like London, Sydney and Tokyo, to raise awareness on women's and civil rights, seemingly under threat in Trump presidency.
"Congratulations to the women marching today. We must go forward to ensure full reproductive justice for all women. #WomensMarch," Senator Bernie Sanders said in a tweet, asking his supporters to join the first protest against Trump.
Said to be the largest ever protest against Trump, law enforcement officials were on their toes and the city was on a high-alert to maintain law and order in the city.
Protesters, many of them supporting bright pink knit hats, poured in the city since early morning in buses, trains, and cars, and swamped the streets of downtown Washington in a sea of pink.
Long-queues were witnessed in the city's Metro subway system, which was visibly under stress due to the load of so many people.
Yesterday, over 200 protesters were arrested by Washington police after clashes broke out between masked protesters and law enforcement agencies at many places in the capital during Trump's inauguration ceremony.
The Women's March on Washington aims to send a message to all levels of government, including but not limited to the new administration, that "we stand together in solidarity and we expect elected leaders" to act to protect the rights of women, their families and their communities, the organisers said.
"We march today for the moral core of this nation, against which our new President is waging a war," actress America Ferrera said addressing the huge crowd.
"Our dignity, our character, our rights have all been under attack and a platform of hate and division assumed power yesterday. But the President is not America. ... We are America and we are here to stay," Ferrera said.
Some of the posters being displayed included "Women won't back down" and "Less fear more love."
As per organisers similar marches are being held in 600 sister cities across the country and the world.
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