Thousands rally in Los Angeles at Women’s March for gender rights

World Today

Last year, 750,000 people participated in the Women’s March in Los Angeles, surpassing New York and Washington.

This year, marchers were out in full force again to speak out about women’s issues. CGTN’s May Lee has more.

In the city of Angels, Saturday was a day to march en mass once more. “I think it shows that people are like minded and a lot of us are on the same page”, said one marcher.

Last year, Los Angeles broke the record for having the biggest women’s march anywhere in the world, and it looks like they’re trying to do the same again this year. The issues are similar…women’s rights, inclusion and a dislike of Donald Trump.

A passionate marcher said, “It’s ridiculous that we’ve elected a man to the White House who is an admitted sexual assaulter, he’s a racist, he’s a homophobe, he’s a sexist.”

Another said, “If we band together as citizens who care about this country who care about each other then hopefully right will win…win out and make America really great again.”

And speaking of making America great again…a handful of Trump supporters was also out taking a stand. As a precaution, they were encircled by Women’s March volunteers and police.

But it’s no surprise that a majority of Californians do not support the Trump Administration. California is, after all, a blue state and many of the president’s policies are and will negatively impact the state. All the more reason marchers are out in full force.

“We’re living in interesting troubled times and it’s time to let our voices be heard” said a male marcher.

And like last year, at women’s marches around the world, protesters donned Pussyhats…a symbol of women’s rights and it all started at a modest knit shop right here in LA.

Kat Coyle, designer of the Pussyhat and owner of “The Little Knittery” said the experience has been overwhelming. “It’s been so nice how people have come to me in gratitude, thank you for giving me something to do so. I’m getting emotional just thinking about. Yeah, it’s cool.”

It’s all part of a continuing movement that these marchers say will live on here in California and around the world.