Millions of women protest against Trump in US streets, world's cities

Thousands of women took to the streets of European capitals to join "sister marches" in Asia against newly installed US President Donald Trump ahead of a major rally in Washington that far exceeded expectations and big turnouts in other US cities as well.

Worldwide, some 670 marches were held and more than two million people flooded the streets of US cities on Saturday in peaceful women-led protests a day after the inauguration of Trump, according to estimates from march organisers.

At the main "Women's March on Washington" organisers put the estimated turnout at a million, four times initial expectations, with huge crowds joining sister marches around the country.

More than half a million people flooded the streets of Los Angeles in one of the largest marches held by protesters who fear that progress on gender equality, contraception and abortion may be chipped away under Trump.

LAPD spokesman Andrew Neiman said his department was still working on a crowd estimate but he told AFP it was certainly larger than a pro-immigration march that drew 500,000 in 2006.

The Los Angeles march's organisers claimed a turnout of 750,000.

March organisers in New York also claimed a crowd count of half a million, tweeting: "This is what democracy looks like! Over 500k people are here at @womensmarch!"

The Chicago Tribune reported that 150,000 rallied in the city, although the figure was not confirmed by police.

The Austin police department said more than 50,000 protested in the Texas capital.

“This is part of democracy, this is what democracy is all about, to speak up,” participant Miriam Shahab told the Middle East Eye.

“I’m here because I believe that we are all Americans and we are all guaranteed equal rights. The president represents the entire country, not just the selected few who voted for him. We are all equal created in the eyes of God. That’s what makes America great. America doesn’t have one faith, one religion, one colour or one ethnicity. We are all Americans. We want a president who represents all of us,” she said.

Celebrities including rights activist Bianca Jagger, singer Charlotte Church and actor Ian McKellen expressed their support for the protest on social media.

In London, a largely female crowd, which also had many men and children, packed a Trafalgar Square rally in solidarity with the women-led demonstrations throughout the US.

"Our Rights Are Not For Grabs - Neither Are We," were among the banners held aloft, along with "We shall overcomb" and "Make bigotry wrong again".

Hannah Bryant, a 34-year-old museum worker, brought her four-year-old daughter - both of them wearing the bright pink "pussy hats" worn by US demonstrators.

"I've been teaching her about equality and prejudice," she said.

Organisers said 100,000 attended the London march, although there was no independent verification as police do not give an estimate.

In Paris, at least 2,000 people gathered near the Eiffel Tower, holding up banners that read "liberty, equality, sorority," in a reference to France's national motto.

"I am here for women and for all minorities because Trump is a threat to all humanity," said a US national Kendra Wergin, who is in her mid-30s.

Andreia Rossi, a 39-year-old Brazilian, told AFP she was taking part "because I am a woman, but also because I want to protest against everything Trump represents". 

She added: "It's very dangerous, he has lied to all those who voted for him, and that can happen in France too."

Right-wing populists and nationalist groups in France and elsewhere in Europe have been emboldened by Trump's victory as well as by Britain's vote last year to leave the European Union.

In Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and Geneva too, protesters were enraged by Trump's derogatory remarks on women.

"We are here for women and for human rights," one of a large contingent of American expatriate women told SkyTG24 news channel in Rome.

"This American says Trump go back to your own planet," read a placard brandished by a protester.

"We must defend democratic values," said Karen Olson, who organised the Swiss march, as motorists driving by honked their horns in support.

"When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty," read a banner held up by a Barcelona protester.

"Make America sane again," read a banner in Amsterdam.

In Budapest, up to 400 people gathered in solidarity with the Washington marchers.

"Bridges not walls," read one of their banners, a reference to Trump's threat to build a wall separating the United States from Mexico to stop migrants from entering the country - and to have Mexico pay for it.

In Berlin, hundreds rallied in front of the US embassy, chanting pro-migrant slogans in a nation that welcomed nearly a million people fleeing war and poverty in 2015.

"No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here," they cried.

In Prague, protest organiser Johanna Nejedlova branded Trump's rhetoric "hateful".

"We want to express our support for values such as democracy, human rights, ecology and women's rights," she said.

There were also solidarity marches beyond Europe too, with protests in Johannesburg, South Africa, where marchers held up banners reading "Black lives matter" and "Love trumps hate".

Anti-Trump protests also took place in Australia with several thousand marching in Sydney and Melbourne. And in New Zealand, hundreds joined demonstrations in the capital Wellington as well as in Auckland.