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Women protest, across country on women’s march anniversary sending a message to Trump

Women’s March 2018 | ‘We can’t afford the luxury of despair’ Women’s March 2018 | “We can’t afford the luxury of despair,” says activist Elise Bryan, who believes the protests have more energy and passion than last year’s march. Thousands attended marches across the U.S. and Canada on the anniversary of Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Hundreds of thousands protest in D.C., across country on women’s march anniversary by Brent D. Griffiths

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Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marked the first anniversary of the national women’s march in cities across the country on Saturday, vowing that last year’s massive turnout was only the first stage of a movement protesting President Donald Trump, as many politicians sought to add their voices, too.

According to local media reports, organizers said some 300,000 people attended the rally in Chicago — far more than were expected. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office said 120,00 people attended a protest there. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, also a Democrat, wrote on Twitter that 600,000 people turned out for its rally.

At its 2 p.m. peak, last year’s Washington march drew some 470,000 marchers in a pointed protest to Trump’s inauguration that stunned political observers and galvanized burgeoning opposition to the new president.

This year’s focus is on Las Vegas, where marchers will gather Sunday, though news footage showed large swells of protesters in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver. According to the march’s official website, protests are planned for both Saturday and Sunday in almost every state and around the world.

Celebrities attending various events included Jane Fonda, Eva Longoria and Scarlett Johansson. Attorney Gloria Allred attended the Park City, Utah march. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats, attended the D.C. march.

“Today we’re sending Trump another message, look out your window,” Toni Van Pelt, president of the National Organization for Women, told marchers in Washington. “See us, hear us, feel our power. You can’t stop us with your tweets, you can’t stop us with your bullying and you can’t stop us with your hate speech.”

Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez emphasized the number of women running on the party’s ticket in November.

“If the Congress, if the White House, if the governorships across America had more women like I see here today, we would be a much better America,” Perez said.

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In Washington, congressional hopefuls like Nadia Hashimi used the platform to highlight their campaigns. Hashimi is running to replace Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.), who has announced his intentions to run for president in 2020 and is not seeking reelection. The Cook Political report rates the seat as a safe Democratic district.

“I attended this march last year. I was outraged,” said Nadia Hashimi, who is running to become the first Afghan woman elected to Congress. “I stood with fellow physicians, ready to demand change, and this year I stand in front of this crowd as a candidate because I decided, like so many of you, that enough is enough, and if we are the majority then we should look like it.”

Trump took to Twitter to give his personal take on the marchers on Saturday afternoon: “Beautiful weather all over our great country, a perfect day for all Women to March. Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months. Lowest female unemployment in 18 years!” To read more go to link below:

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/20/womens-march-anniversary-dc-352231

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