Friday, January 20th was a day so many people were dreading the arrival of. It was a day most of us had hoped a few months ago would go very differently than it did. However, despite the despair and anguish, despite the terror and anger, something amazing arose because of that day. On Saturday, January 21st, millions of people of different genders, races, and backgrounds came together to stand up for what they believe in.
On January 21st, there were organized marches all over the world protesting the newly inaugurated president in America. People all over the world felt as though this new president was their problem. People all over the world felt as though this new American president was going to affect them poorly. People all over the world felt as though this new president was going to set the feminist movement back so far that the only thing that would keep the movement going strong was their combined voices. They were right.
A demand to be heard was made on the 21st. They refused to be ignored and they succeeded. The Women's Marches were estimated to be the largest one-day protests in American history. What's truly incredible, though, is that the borders of the U.S. are not where the protests stopped.
Here are photos from Women's Marches on the 21st from all around the globe.
Here is a march in Rome from Elizabeth Marie:
From Luke Rozansky, the march in London:
The march in Amsterdam from Karen Lichtenberg:
An estimated 2,000 people in Dublin, Ireland, from Ann Prendiville-Burgess:
Oslo, Norway, from Marie Harbo Dahle:
There are countless other countries and cities where marches took place, as well. The rest of photos that I've collected from people all over the world will be at the end of this article!
Finally, the march that happened right in DC. Even thought there were marches in countless cities all over the world, people flew from all over to march in DC. With over 1,000,000 people on the metro station alone, the women's march drew a much larger crowd than anticipated. For comparison, as of 11 a.m. on the 20th, only an hour before the new president was sworn in, the metro station reported only 193,000 people.
I spoke with women who marched on the 21st about what this meant for them and all humans.
Lauri Wasson said: "I decided to march because President Trump's rhetoric against and disrespect of Muslims, people of color, people with disabilities, the LGBT community, and women legitimizes people's discriminatory and racist beliefs." This not only was a women's march to so many people but a human right's march, standing up against the new president and their distaste for him and disagreement with him.
When asked to describe her experience, Kendra Henline stated that "it was incredible to be around such like-minded, progressive, and caring people. It's something I've never experienced at that capacity before." So many women felt such a strong sense of belonging and empowerment.
Katy Ross, however, felt as though this was not a march in protest of the new president, but rather a warning for him. "If we can mobilize millions of people across the country (and the world!) twenty-four hours after he was inaugurated, imagine what we're capable of if he starts taking away our rights."
All three women agreed that the protest was a success, accomplishing at least one thing they believe it was intended to. They also all were most shocked by simply the huge mass of people that attended and how it brought them together with all of these other people who shared a similar vision.
We know that we cannot be silenced. We have millions of allies, all over the world, all fighting for the same cause. We will not give up and anyone standing in our way isn't prepared for our strength and resilience.
Marches from all over the world:
From Sarah Smithson-Compton in Hamburg, Germany:
From Marcia Sharon in Toronto:
From Kenna Smith in Scotland:
From Miranda Ash in Mexico:
From Erica Hoelper in Prague, Czech Republic:
Another picture in Oslo, Norway, from Tyler Leigh:
From Valerie Plesch in Pristina, Kosovo:
