Close to 100,000 protesters have marched on London to express their opposition to Donald Trump’s presidency. Women’s March On London was one of hundreds of protests taking place in major cities around the globe to mark the politician’s inauguration.
Women’s Marches took place in cities around the world to protest the inauguration of the controversial president, who has been sued for allegedly denying accommodation to African Americans while a real estate mogul and also been recorded appearing to brag about sexually assaulting women.
Mr Trump has dismissed criticism against him, insisting his comments about sexual assault were “locker room banter” which people should not take seriously.
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The marches welcome protesters of all genders and say their mission statement is to take a stand against growing right-wing political sentiment in all its forms, including homophobia, transphobia, anti-Muslim bigotry, misogyny, class prejudice and racism.
Throngs of demonstrators at the London event marched from Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, past the US embassy and onto Trafalgar Square. Many bore placards highlighting Mr Trump’s misogynistic comments, allegations of racism or his refutation of climate change.
One woman carried her infant daughter in one arm and a placard in the other. It read: “So she will never question her self worth – why I’m marching”.
Another woman among the crowd wielding a sign reading “Keep your tiny hands off women’s rights” told The Independent: “When I heard the march was [happening] I couldn’t not come out today and join it. I don’t want to look back on Trump’s presidency in years to come and think I’d not done what I could do resist it.”
A pair of protesters carrying placards in support of Black Lives Matter, the anti-racism movement which originated in the US in response to police brutality against African Americans, said: “We’re worried about what Trump’s election says about the state of the world – about the state of poorphobia, misogyny and racism.”
Thousands attend Women's March on London protest against Trump
The crowds shouted slogans against the politician, including calling for impeachment and vowing that women would “fight back” against any attempt to further reduce their rights under his administration.
Marches were held in cities around the world from Dublin to Cape Town, Budapest to Kolkata.
The largest Women’s March took place in Washington DC, the same site as Mr Trump’s inauguration, where an estimated half a million people took to the streets. Unconfirmed reports suggested more protesters attended the Washington Women’s March than supporters who attended the inauguration itself.
The business mogul turned politician has some of the lowest approval ratings among the American public at this stage in his presidency. Just 37 per cent of citizens say they approve of him, compared to the 80 per cent support which Obama enjoyed at this stage in his own presidency in 2009.
In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump
Show all 32
In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump
1/32 London
An image of President Donald Trump is seen on a placard during the Women's March in London, England
Getty
2/32 Sydney
A view of the skywriting word reading 'Trump' as thousands rally in support of equal rights in Sydney, New South Wales
EPA
3/32 Rome
People shout and hold signs during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome
Getty Images
4/32 London
A protester holds a placard during the Women's March in London, England
Getty Images
5/32 Marseille
A placard ready 'Pussy grabs back' is attached to the handle bar of a bike during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France
Getty Images
6/32 Bangkok
A young Thai girl holds a "women's rights are human rights" sign at Roadhouse BBQ restaurant where many of the Bangkok Womens March participants gathered in Bangkok, Thailand
Getty Images
7/32 Bangkok
A Thai woman takes a photo of a "hate is not great" sign at the women's solidarity gathering in Bangkok, Thailand
Getty Images
8/32 Bangkok
American expats and travellers gather with the international community in Bangkok at the Roadhouse BBQ restaurant to stand in solidarity in Bangkok, Thailand
Getty Images
9/32 London
Protetesters gather outside The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England
Getty Images
10/32 Marseille
Women's March at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France
Getty Images
11/32 Marseille
Protestors hold placards reading 'My body my choice, my vote my voice' during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France
Getty Images
12/32 Rome
A person holds a sign during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome
Getty Images
13/32 Kolkata
Activist Sarah Annay Williamson holds a placard and shouts slogan during the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India
AP
14/32 Kolkata
Activists participate in the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India
AP
15/32 London
A Women's March placards are rested on a bench outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England
Getty Images
16/32 London
A women carries her placard ahead of the Women's March in London, England
Getty Images
17/32 Manila
Women protesters shout slogans while displaying placards during a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President Donald Trump, in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines
AP
18/32 Berlin
Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany
AP
19/32 Berlin
Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany
AP
20/32 Berlin
Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany
AP
21/32 Melbourne
Protesters take part in the Melbourne rally to protest against the Trump Inauguration in Melbourne, Australia
Getty Images
22/32 Macau
Protesters take part in the Women's March rally in Macau
Getty Images
23/32 Melbourne
Womens march on Melbourne protestors marching during a rally where rights groups marched in solidarity with Americans to speak out against misogyny, bigotry and hatred
Rex
24/32 Macau
Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau
Getty Images
25/32 Macau
Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau, Macau. The Women's March originated in Washington DC but soon spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights
Getty Images
26/32 Manila
A mother carries her son as they join a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines
AP
27/32 Sydney
An infant is held up at a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia
Getty Images
28/32 Sydney
A woman attends a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia
Getty Images
29/32 Sydney
A woman expresses her Anti-Trump views in Sydney, Australia
Getty Images
30/32 Sydeney
Protesters demonstrate against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia. The marches in Australia were organised to show solidarity with those marching on Washington DC and around the world in defense of women's rights and human rights
Getty
31/32 London
Protesters march from The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square towards Trafalgar Square during the Women's March in London, England
Getty
32/32 London
Protesters carrying banners take part in the Women's March on London, as they stand in Trafalgar Square, in central London
Reuters
1/32 London
An image of President Donald Trump is seen on a placard during the Women's March in London, England
Getty
2/32 Sydney
A view of the skywriting word reading 'Trump' as thousands rally in support of equal rights in Sydney, New South Wales
EPA
3/32 Rome
People shout and hold signs during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome
Getty Images
4/32 London
A protester holds a placard during the Women's March in London, England
Getty Images
5/32 Marseille
A placard ready 'Pussy grabs back' is attached to the handle bar of a bike during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France
Getty Images
6/32 Bangkok
A young Thai girl holds a "women's rights are human rights" sign at Roadhouse BBQ restaurant where many of the Bangkok Womens March participants gathered in Bangkok, Thailand
Getty Images
7/32 Bangkok
A Thai woman takes a photo of a "hate is not great" sign at the women's solidarity gathering in Bangkok, Thailand
Getty Images
8/32 Bangkok
American expats and travellers gather with the international community in Bangkok at the Roadhouse BBQ restaurant to stand in solidarity in Bangkok, Thailand
Getty Images
9/32 London
Protetesters gather outside The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England
Getty Images
10/32 Marseille
Women's March at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France
Getty Images
11/32 Marseille
Protestors hold placards reading 'My body my choice, my vote my voice' during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in solidarity with women marching in Washington and around the world for their rights and against the reactionary politics of the newly sworn-in US President Donald Trump, at the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille, southern France
Getty Images
12/32 Rome
A person holds a sign during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome
Getty Images
13/32 Kolkata
Activist Sarah Annay Williamson holds a placard and shouts slogan during the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India
AP
14/32 Kolkata
Activists participate in the Women's March rally in Kolkata, India
AP
15/32 London
A Women's March placards are rested on a bench outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square ahead of the Women's March in London, England
Getty Images
16/32 London
A women carries her placard ahead of the Women's March in London, England
Getty Images
17/32 Manila
Women protesters shout slogans while displaying placards during a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President Donald Trump, in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines
AP
18/32 Berlin
Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany
AP
19/32 Berlin
Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany
AP
20/32 Berlin
Protesters attend a 'Berlin Women's March on Washington' demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany
AP
21/32 Melbourne
Protesters take part in the Melbourne rally to protest against the Trump Inauguration in Melbourne, Australia
Getty Images
22/32 Macau
Protesters take part in the Women's March rally in Macau
Getty Images
23/32 Melbourne
Womens march on Melbourne protestors marching during a rally where rights groups marched in solidarity with Americans to speak out against misogyny, bigotry and hatred
Rex
24/32 Macau
Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau
Getty Images
25/32 Macau
Protesters hold placards as they take part at the Women's March rally in Macau, Macau. The Women's March originated in Washington DC but soon spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights
Getty Images
26/32 Manila
A mother carries her son as they join a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines
AP
27/32 Sydney
An infant is held up at a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia
Getty Images
28/32 Sydney
A woman attends a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia
Getty Images
29/32 Sydney
A woman expresses her Anti-Trump views in Sydney, Australia
Getty Images
30/32 Sydeney
Protesters demonstrate against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia. The marches in Australia were organised to show solidarity with those marching on Washington DC and around the world in defense of women's rights and human rights
Getty
31/32 London
Protesters march from The US Embassy in Grosvenor Square towards Trafalgar Square during the Women's March in London, England
Getty
32/32 London
Protesters carrying banners take part in the Women's March on London, as they stand in Trafalgar Square, in central London
Reuters
While Mr Trump won the electoral college vote, he failed to win majority support among voters- with the majority instead going to his rival Hillary Clinton.
The initial reaction for many feminists upon Mr Trump's election in November 9 as results trickled in, was one of stunned silence and shock. However, it appears their frustration has now boiled over into angry and a vocal desire for change, which will now form an unignorable back drop to the next four years of Mr Trump's presidency.
As London protesters arrived at Trafalgar square, politicians and activists addressed the crowds, after which music and dancing broke out before the crowds dispersed. As they left, protesters tucked their banners into the railings around Trafalgar Square, creating the appearance of an anti-Trump shrine through hundreds of placards, balloons and posters.
It is yet to be seen what specific actions will form part of a Trump presidency, including whether the concerns about potential attacks on minority rights are justified. However, the strong show of support through the marches across the globe suggest the world will be watching over the next four years.
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