Thousands protest in Washington against Trump as he prepares for inauguration

BBC:

Thousands of mostly female demonstrators took to the streets of Washington DC on Saturday to rally against President-elect Donald Trump two days ahead of his inauguration.

The People’s March – previously known as the Women’s March – has taken place every year since 2017.

A coalition of groups organised the movement with the stated aim of confronting “Trumpism”, according to its website. Smaller protests against Trump were held in New York City and on the other side of the country in Seattle.

The rallies coincide with Trump’s arrival to the nation’s capital for a series of weekend events in the lead-up to his swearing-in ceremony on Monday.

Saturday’s People’s March in Washington DC drew smaller numbers than its predecessors.

Organisers had expected 50,000 people. About 5,000 turned up.

The protesters gathered at three parks before marching to the Lincoln Memorial for the rally.

The groups behind the march are described on its website as holding “intersecting identities” and having “varied issue-based interests” with different causes such as climate change, immigration and women’s rights.

Organisers said they aimed to confront Trump by “drawing on past successes and effective strategies against autocrats”.

A small group of Trump supporters were at the Washington Monument on Saturday. Noticing the men in red Make America Great Again hats, one People’s March leader with a megaphone approached chanting: “No Trump, no KKK.”

One of the men, Timothy Wallis, told the Associated Press news agency his friends had just bought the Trump hats from a street vendor.

Mr Wallis, 58, of Pocatello, Idaho, said the People’s March protesters had “every right” to demonstrate, though he said he was confused by the rancour.

“It’s sad where we’re at as a country,” he said.