Demonstrators gather for Women's March in Washington, D.C.
Demonstrators gathered in Washington, D.C. on Saturday for the second Women's March of the year. Although the fourth annual Women's March occurred earlier this year, Saturday's event was organized in honor of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
A rally began midday, followed by a march to the United States Capitol. It conclude at the National Mall with a "socially distant text-banking telethon" with the goal of sending five million messages to encourage people to vote, according to the website for the march. The "text-a-thon" on the National Mall was one of more than 400 events around the country in cities like Chicago and New York.
In an effort to ensure the safety of participants, everyone who attended was required to wear a mask and practice social distancing. There were also hand sanitizing stations throughout the march, and anyone who felt too ill to attend in person could participate in a virtual event.
A journalist for CBS affiliate WUSA9 reported that attendees attempted to remain socially distant throughout the day.
Turnout was far lower than the massive crowds following President Trump's inauguration, but the message largely remained the same.
"I'm a 22-year-old woman. I think my future's at stake. I don't want to see Donald Trump reelected," said protester Teri Long.
Latoya White, another protester, told CBS News, "With the climate of everything with Black Lives Matter, with the Supreme Court justices, I felt inspired to make my voice heard."
Kimberly Reed, who brought her two sons to the protest, explained she wanted to teach them "from a young age the importance of women's rights and equality."
Reproductive rights active Sonja Spoo said in a speech ahead of the march that it had been a "hard and painful past several years," but that this demonstration was a "repudiation" of the president and his politics.
"Donald Trump is leaving office and there is no choice for him - it is our choice - and we are voting him out come November 3," Spoo said.
The first Women's March was held on the day after Mr. Trump's inauguration in 2017 to protest the new administration. Millions of women gathered for that first march.
"We saw the power when millions of us joined in the streets together the day after Trump's inauguration. We need to bring that same power and determination to October 17 to cap off Trump's presidency just the way it started - with massive, women-led resistance," the Women's March website said.
Saturday's march was intended to commemorate Ginsburg's legacy but also to protest Mr. Trump's choice to replace her on the Supreme Court, Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Democrats worry that Barrett would rule with the other conservative justices on the court and vote to overturn Roe v. Wade and the Affordable Care Act. Barrett's nomination will be taken up by the Senate next week.
Nikole Killion contributed reporting.
