In January 2016, about four million people responded to the inauguration of President Donald Trump by gathering the next day for the Women’s March in Washington DC, and at sister marches in cities across the country and around the world. The march was a protest in support of gender equality and other civil rights that they feel are threatened by the incoming administration. In Washington DC about 500,000 filled the National Mall, and there were similar sized crowds in both New York and Los Angeles. Every major city had large demonstrations, and Women’s Marches were also held in cities throughout the world, including Barcelona, London, Nairobi, Sydney, Mexico City, Athens, Moscow, Tokyo, and Antarctica to name just a few.

The Washington march featured speeches by Gloria Steinem, Scarlett Johansson and Madonna among others. Actress and activist America Ferrera told the Washington crowd, “We march today for the moral core of this nation, against which our new president is waging a war. Our dignity, our character, our rights have all been under attack, and a platform of hate and division assumed power yesterday.” Millions of women (and men) came together on this day to protect those values. They gathered with people whom they had never met to share slogans, chants and a feeling that together they could make a difference.

Many of the protesters sported pink knitted “pussyhats” to mock Trump, and carried signs that challenged his campaign rhetoric and policy proposals. One woman, who flew 4,000 km from the west coast to attend, said: “I can’t stand the colour pink, and this hat looks really silly on me. But right now it’s my most precious material possession. I’m betting there are lots of people who will look at their hats and remember that they need to do something – not just today, but tomorrow and the next days.”