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Women's March: UK protesters join anti-Donald Trump march | Women's March: UK protesters join anti-Donald Trump march |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Thousands of protesters have taken part in a Women's March in London as part of an international campaign on the first full day of Donald Trump's presidency. | Thousands of protesters have taken part in a Women's March in London as part of an international campaign on the first full day of Donald Trump's presidency. |
They marched from the US embassy to Trafalgar Square for a rally, held in solidarity with a Washington DC march. | |
TV presenter Sandi Toksvig and Labour MP Yvette Cooper addressed crowds, while London mayor Sadiq Khan attended. | TV presenter Sandi Toksvig and Labour MP Yvette Cooper addressed crowds, while London mayor Sadiq Khan attended. |
Organisers say it highlighted women's rights, which they perceive to be under threat from the new US administration. | Organisers say it highlighted women's rights, which they perceive to be under threat from the new US administration. |
London organisers announced on stage that between 80,000 and 100,000 people, including men and women, had taken part in the rally. | |
However, police have not given an independent estimate and the BBC has no way of verifying the figure. | However, police have not given an independent estimate and the BBC has no way of verifying the figure. |
Demonstrators left the US embassy, in London's Grosvenor Square, shortly after midday. | |
As the crowd made its way along Piccadilly, people chanted "build bridges not walls". | |
Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol and Shipley were also hosting protests. | |
It comes as up to 200,000 protesters gather for a "Women's March on Washington". | It comes as up to 200,000 protesters gather for a "Women's March on Washington". |
Eleanor Hallam, 26, was among those marching in London. She said she was there "out of solidarity for all the women and other groups marginalised by Trump's politics". | Eleanor Hallam, 26, was among those marching in London. She said she was there "out of solidarity for all the women and other groups marginalised by Trump's politics". |
Hannah Webb, 26, who travelled from South Wales to London, added: "When social media feeds you fear, it feels good to march together shoulder to shoulder." | Hannah Webb, 26, who travelled from South Wales to London, added: "When social media feeds you fear, it feels good to march together shoulder to shoulder." |
Nic Bash, an American now living in London, said he had attended "because if you don't like something you have to try and change it". | Nic Bash, an American now living in London, said he had attended "because if you don't like something you have to try and change it". |
Hollywood actress Rebecca Hall said it was "important for me to march in solidarity" in London. | |
The half American, half British actress added: "Yesterday was a confusing day and a sad day - I was sad to see Obama leave." | |
The Iron Man 3 star said "we do not know what the [Trump] government is going to be like". | The Iron Man 3 star said "we do not know what the [Trump] government is going to be like". |
At the scene | At the scene |
Cherry Wilson, BBC News | Cherry Wilson, BBC News |
"Stand united, we will never be divided", was the message chanted by the crowd as people marched through central London. | "Stand united, we will never be divided", was the message chanted by the crowd as people marched through central London. |
Sporadic cheers erupted every few minutes as the crowd held up placards to the beat of drum and bass music from a portable sound system. | |
Pink, heart-shaped balloons and messages to Donald Trump were carried by the crowd with people travelling from as far as Scotland to attend the march. | Pink, heart-shaped balloons and messages to Donald Trump were carried by the crowd with people travelling from as far as Scotland to attend the march. |
"It's sending a message of solidarity," said Valuska Andrews, 49, who had come from Edinburgh. | "It's sending a message of solidarity," said Valuska Andrews, 49, who had come from Edinburgh. |
"We want progressive politics and the truth. It's about people supporting each other." | "We want progressive politics and the truth. It's about people supporting each other." |
Her sister Ludi, from south London, added: "Women's rights is a huge issue. We have had choice and we want our daughters to have that." | Her sister Ludi, from south London, added: "Women's rights is a huge issue. We have had choice and we want our daughters to have that." |
Labour MP Harriet Harman was joined on the march by playwright Bonnie Greer. | |
Ms Harman said Mr Trump's victory had caused a "real sense of menace" and a feeling that rights would regress. | |
"This is a very important antidote to feeling passively disempowered and a sense that things are going to be pushed back," she added. | |
A protest against Mr Trump also took place at London's US embassy on Friday night. | |
Singer Lily Allen joined demonstrators, local politicians and trades unionists to highlight concerns raised by his election campaign on issues including nuclear weapons, climate change and immigration. | |
Protests also happened in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester as Mr Trump was being sworn in as the 45th US president. | |
'Sister marches' | 'Sister marches' |
Celebrities such as Katy Perry, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Schumer, Ugly Betty star America Ferrera, Patricia Arquette and Michael Moore are all expected to attend the Washington DC rally. | |
Events are also being held in some 300 US cities - from New York to Seattle - while almost 700 so-called sister marches are being held across the globe. | |
Protests have already taken place in Australia, New Zealand and Japan, as well as Asian cities such as Bangkok. | |
Several thousand women and men joined a rally in central Sydney, with a similar number in Melbourne. | |
Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Geneva, Budapest, Prague and Berlin were among European cities holding rallies. | |
Are you joining the rally? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you joining the rally? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |