Thousands of protestors have taken to the streets across the United States for the second Women’s March protesting Donald Trump – a repeat of the widespread protests which followed the president’s election.
The rallies – which are definitely a little smaller than they were the first time around, but still a massive show of force – took place in rallies in Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and about 250 other cities across the country.
Most women in history to reject one man. #WomensMarch2018 pic.twitter.com/KRa4kZttaB
— Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger) January 20, 2018
Massive #WomensMarch2018 underway in San Francisco – @nbcbayarea pic.twitter.com/0iDAXU9sAK
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 20, 2018
Sacramento, you looked gorgeous today! #WomensMarch2018 pic.twitter.com/rKsIbtqO0o
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) January 20, 2018
“While we have this President celebrating his one-year anniversary, let’s give him an ‘F’ for his performance,” Democrat Nancy Pelosi told a Washington crowd. “We don’t agonise, we organise.”
Trump himself noted the protests, but tweeted that the women should be focused on the current low unemployment rate for women across the country.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018
Protesters and speakers focused on their next move: fighting Trump at the ballot box. They aim to secure a million more voter registrations, pushing for more pro-women candidates to take office over the next few years.
“We will make our message heard at the polls this fall,” Emily Patton, a rally organiser, told Washington demonstrators. “That is why we are urging people to register to vote today.”
Activists will be targeting swing states held by Republicans as the country moves towards the midterm elections. It’s being hailed as “a new era in political activism” by organisers of the Women’s March.
The White House did not offer comment on the marches beyond Trump’s tweet, which perhaps isn’t surprising. Why comment when Trump has his fingers on the tweet trigger at all times?
The march comes as the U.S. federal government enters shutdown, thanks to a funding bill failing to pass. Unsurprisingly, many of the speakers at rallies capitalised on this for effect. Hillary Clinton‘s VP pick Tim Kaine certainly pointed it out.
“The Trump shutdown is due to the inability of the Republican Party to do basic governing, like making a budget,” he said.
