
Story highlights
- The page's description says it is a "inclusive march" for "everyone who supports women's rights"
- More than 40,000 people say they are attending
Washington (CNN)Tens
of thousands of people say they are participating in a "Women's March
on Washington" the day after President-elect Donald Trump is
inaugurated.
The event, which is publicized on Facebook
and scheduled for January 21, has garnered national attention and is
titled the "Women's March on Washington." Previously, it was called the
"Million Women March on D.C."
As
of Saturday, the page had more than 44,000 individuals who said they
were going, with more than 121,000 people saying they were interested.
Fontaine
Pearson, one of the march's organizers, said in a phone call that the
march is not a protest against Trump or the legitimacy of the election,
but said it is to shed light on women's issues, including sexual assault
and workplace discrimination.
"We're
strong, but this has been a very difficult election for a lot of
women," Pearson said, also noting that she had seen interest from
individuals on both side of political aisle.
Essie Labrot, who lives in West Hartford, Connecticut, said in a phone call she is "definitely going."
Labrot
said she has been involved in local and state democratic politics and
was a Hillary Clinton supporter, but said this was more than just
election politics.
"It's a little more personal for me," Labrot said.
Labrot said she is attending to "show solidarity to women, minorities, and everyone who is going to participate."
"We're still here, and we will be watching," Labrot said.
The
page's description says it is a "inclusive march" for "everyone who
supports women's rights," and has multiple additional groups set up by
state that are coordinating travel to D.C. for the march.
Pearson said the march is part of a broader grassroots movement that she hopes will allow more action at state levels.
The
event's conception comes in light of Trump's White House victory, which
has sparked protests in major cities across the United States.
Trump
was widely criticized during the campaign for remarks he made in a 2005
tape in which he bragged that he could grope women and get away with
it. Soon after, several women came forward alleging that Trump sexually
assaulted them.
Clinton won the female vote
with 54% of women voting for her, but Trump still garnered 42% of women
voters, despite 70% of voters saying Trump's treatment of women
bothered them.
"There's a real hunger for this," Pearson said.

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