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Women's March: A united message spanning generations | Women's March: A united message spanning generations |
(about 9 hours later) | |
"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. |
Cheers erupted every few minutes as the crowd held up placards to the beat of drum and bass music from a portable sound system. | Cheers erupted every few minutes as the crowd held up placards to the beat of drum and bass music from a portable sound system. |
"Girls just wanna have fundamental rights", "Women won't be trumped" and "Burn bras not bridges" were some of the messages directed at US President Donald Trump from the UK. | "Girls just wanna have fundamental rights", "Women won't be trumped" and "Burn bras not bridges" were some of the messages directed at US President Donald Trump from the UK. |
Women - and men - of all ages descended on the capital for the Women's March in London on the first full day of his presidency. | Women - and men - of all ages descended on the capital for the Women's March in London on the first full day of his presidency. |
There was a united message from the crowd, who came with glitter on their faces and even fancy dress to take part in the two-mile walk. | There was a united message from the crowd, who came with glitter on their faces and even fancy dress to take part in the two-mile walk. |
Many were parents who said they wanted to send out a message for the next generation that they have a voice and can stand up for the women's rights they believe to be under threat from the new US administration. | Many were parents who said they wanted to send out a message for the next generation that they have a voice and can stand up for the women's rights they believe to be under threat from the new US administration. |
Mum-of-one Danae Savvidou, 25, travelled alone from Gloucestershire to London to take part in the event for the sake of her 10-month-old daughter. | Mum-of-one Danae Savvidou, 25, travelled alone from Gloucestershire to London to take part in the event for the sake of her 10-month-old daughter. |
She said: "She was born during the presidency of a man who openly supported women's rights and protected them. | She said: "She was born during the presidency of a man who openly supported women's rights and protected them. |
"I feel like we've gone back 100 years and I feel sad for her generation. | "I feel like we've gone back 100 years and I feel sad for her generation. |
"Donald Trump isn't presidential material. He's openly misogynistic and racist as well. I see America as a leader and partners in the Western world. He represents such a big nation. | "Donald Trump isn't presidential material. He's openly misogynistic and racist as well. I see America as a leader and partners in the Western world. He represents such a big nation. |
"Our leaders over here are right wing as well. It's not going the right way for me. | "Our leaders over here are right wing as well. It's not going the right way for me. |
"Brexit is a concern. I hope we protect the rights the EU offers, such as employment rights and maternity. These issues need to be spoken about. When a nation is doing badly, women suffer. | "Brexit is a concern. I hope we protect the rights the EU offers, such as employment rights and maternity. These issues need to be spoken about. When a nation is doing badly, women suffer. |
"Personally I want my daughter to see what I've done today to show you can do things to change the world and she does have the power." | "Personally I want my daughter to see what I've done today to show you can do things to change the world and she does have the power." |
It was a message which resonated with many other parents as they walked with their children in the fresh winter's air along Piccadilly. | It was a message which resonated with many other parents as they walked with their children in the fresh winter's air along Piccadilly. |
Nancy Pegg, 39, a mum-of-two from south-west London, came along with her daughter Sophie, nine, who carried a yellow banner emblazoned with the words "Yes to equality". | Nancy Pegg, 39, a mum-of-two from south-west London, came along with her daughter Sophie, nine, who carried a yellow banner emblazoned with the words "Yes to equality". |
She said: "This is about equality for girls not in a fortunate position. | She said: "This is about equality for girls not in a fortunate position. |
"Trump is a concern but empowering women is the main motivation. I think it's important for my daughter to have a powerful voice and to know she can be a strong force. | "Trump is a concern but empowering women is the main motivation. I think it's important for my daughter to have a powerful voice and to know she can be a strong force. |
"We live in a male-dominated world. I want to show her anything her brother can do, she can do too. There are no boundaries." | "We live in a male-dominated world. I want to show her anything her brother can do, she can do too. There are no boundaries." |
Although the event was labelled a Women's March, there were hundreds of men in the crowd showing their support. | Although the event was labelled a Women's March, there were hundreds of men in the crowd showing their support. |
Car horns beeped to galvanise the demonstrators who, in turn, greeted the drivers with cheers as the march progressed to its rally in Trafalgar Square. | Car horns beeped to galvanise the demonstrators who, in turn, greeted the drivers with cheers as the march progressed to its rally in Trafalgar Square. |
The Raise Voices Choir motivated the protesters by singing "Don't let Trump get his way" to their own version of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic". | The Raise Voices Choir motivated the protesters by singing "Don't let Trump get his way" to their own version of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic". |
Student Patrick Bone, from Shepherd's Bush, London, attended because he felt "progress made in the last decades is in threat of being eroded". | Student Patrick Bone, from Shepherd's Bush, London, attended because he felt "progress made in the last decades is in threat of being eroded". |
He added: "Trump's election signalled a rise of the populist right who look to blame economic problems on minorities or disenfranchised groups. | He added: "Trump's election signalled a rise of the populist right who look to blame economic problems on minorities or disenfranchised groups. |
"His election was a catalyst for something that's been coming a long time. | "His election was a catalyst for something that's been coming a long time. |
"This march is to show we will stand and be counted. This is only the beginning. The work begins today." | "This march is to show we will stand and be counted. This is only the beginning. The work begins today." |
Tom Amies, 33, a doctor from Middlesex, walked beside his wife Lydia, 34, as he carried their 11-month-old daughter Niamh in a baby carrier sling. | Tom Amies, 33, a doctor from Middlesex, walked beside his wife Lydia, 34, as he carried their 11-month-old daughter Niamh in a baby carrier sling. |
"This is for my daughter, he said. | "This is for my daughter, he said. |
"There has been a political slide to the right and a sense of misplaced trust. Trump wants to repeal Obamacare. It shows how good we have it with the NHS. | "There has been a political slide to the right and a sense of misplaced trust. Trump wants to repeal Obamacare. It shows how good we have it with the NHS. |
"There are going to be people there who have that healthcare for life-saving treatment and they will no longer be able to afford it." | "There are going to be people there who have that healthcare for life-saving treatment and they will no longer be able to afford it." |
The demonstration brought representatives from all nationalities, including Americans who felt they needed to take a stand even though they were thousands of miles away from their country. | The demonstration brought representatives from all nationalities, including Americans who felt they needed to take a stand even though they were thousands of miles away from their country. |
Retired banker Carol Moore, 68, originally from New York, came to represent the Democrats Abroad UK Women's Caucus. | Retired banker Carol Moore, 68, originally from New York, came to represent the Democrats Abroad UK Women's Caucus. |
She said: "I've come because of the horror of seeing Donald Trump win. He is divisive and will hurt the middle classes by repealing the healthcare act. | She said: "I've come because of the horror of seeing Donald Trump win. He is divisive and will hurt the middle classes by repealing the healthcare act. |
"This march has taken on huge visibility here in the UK because the issues are global. Women's pay was an issue when I worked in the City. | "This march has taken on huge visibility here in the UK because the issues are global. Women's pay was an issue when I worked in the City. |
"There is still the issue of sexual violence and how it's prosecuted and handled here. | "There is still the issue of sexual violence and how it's prosecuted and handled here. |
"I hope this is a message to women to recognise they have a voice to fight issues here in the UK and around the world." | "I hope this is a message to women to recognise they have a voice to fight issues here in the UK and around the world." |
Business development manager Anna McDermott, 29, originally from California, has been in the UK for 11 years. | Business development manager Anna McDermott, 29, originally from California, has been in the UK for 11 years. |
She said: "As an American, I cannot accept what Donald Trump says and I can't accept him as a president. | She said: "As an American, I cannot accept what Donald Trump says and I can't accept him as a president. |
"I do hope this sends out a message. 'Good morning. Welcome to day one of the resistance. This is the world shouting back'." | "I do hope this sends out a message. 'Good morning. Welcome to day one of the resistance. This is the world shouting back'." |
As the crowd moved into Trafalgar Square, the noise quietened so demonstrators could listen to the speakers on the stage, who included TV presenter Sandi Toksvig and Labour MP Yvette Cooper. | As the crowd moved into Trafalgar Square, the noise quietened so demonstrators could listen to the speakers on the stage, who included TV presenter Sandi Toksvig and Labour MP Yvette Cooper. |
However, the final address was given by 10-year-old Sumayah Siddiqi who read out a poem to the crowd which had a message of optimism with the words "I shall stand for love". |
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