Hundreds of women’s marches held worldwide to protest Trump and sexual misconduct

More than 200 women’s marches took place around the world to protest the anniversary of Donald Trump’s inauguration and in support of the #MeToo movement.

Women around the world are marking the one-year anniversary of US president Donald Trump’s inauguration with marches against his policies and in support of the #MeToo movement and Time’s Up campaign against sexual assault and harassment.

A protest in New York on Saturday was among more than 200 such actions planned around the world for this weekend.

By midmorning, protesters had also gathered in Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver and Raleigh, North Carolina. A Women’s March anniversary rally was also planned for Las Vegas.

The official Women’s March Twitter account posted “We’re not going anywhere. In 2018, we’re bringing our #PowerToThePolls. GET READY.”

We're not going anywhere.

In 2018, we're bringing our #PowerToThePolls.

GET READY.#WomensMarch2018https://t.co/yekbsBwxHj pic.twitter.com/joTcSU4Nuf

— Women's March (@womensmarch) January 20, 2018

The 2018 marches aim to further the movement started at the 2017 rally in Washington, D.C., and hundreds of similar marches around the country created solidarity for those denouncing Mr Trump’s views on abortion, immigration, LGBT rights and more.

Millions of people around the world marched during last year’s rallies, and many on Saturday reflected on the events of the past year.

Thousands packed the streets of New York City for the second annual Women’s March.

I’d be lying if I said that I’m not dispirited and discouraged over having to march yet again to register our opposition to this disastrous first year of the Trump presidency,” said Peggy Taylor, a New York City tour guide and resident.

The hard reality of what lies ahead of us has sunk in,” she said. “I know that we have a long slog ahead of us to undo the damage that this man has inflicted.

Earlier Saturday, dozens of activists gathered in Rome to denounce violence against women and express support for the #MeToo movement.

#WomensMarchRome today striking the iron while it’s hot #SmashPatriarchy & truth will set you free ✊️❤️ @antonioluisi84 pic.twitter.com/ivxrkhy2Pk

— Asia Argento (@AsiaArgento) January 20, 2018

They were joined by Italian actress and director Asia Argento, who made headlines after alleging in 2017 she had been sexually assaulted by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in the 1990s.

In Rome, the 42-year-old Argento addressed the criticism she received once she spoke up about her abuse.

Women are scared to speak and because I was vilified by everything I said, I was called a prostitute for being raped,” she said at the rally.

I wonder how women who received such violence would find the courage to come out as I did, when they saw what happened to me, so I am here to assess the necessity of women to speak out and change things.

Argento was strongly criticised by Italian media and many Italian women for not speaking out earlier and was hounded on Twitter and branded a troublemaker.

Linda Sarsour, one of the four organisers of last year’s Washington Women’s March, said Las Vegas was slotted for a major rally because it’s a strategic swing state that gave Hillary Clinton a narrow win in the presidential election and will have one of the most competitive Senate races in 2018.

The rallies also laid the groundwork for the recent movement that brought a reckoning for powerful men accused of sexual misconduct, Sarsour said.

I think when women see visible women’s leadership, bold and fierce, going up against a very racist, sexist, misogynist administration, it gives you a different level of courage that you may not have felt you had,” she said.