Women's March 2018 as it happened: Hundreds of thousands join nationwide protests against Trump

Marches are happening all over the world, including this one in Zurich, Switzerland (EPA)

Hundreds of thousands of women around America and the world took to the streets for the 2018 Women's March, a year after the first such event was held in opposition to newly elected US President Donald Trump.

Demonstrators surged into the streets in protests in American cities across the country, with parallel rallies in Europe, Asia and Africa turning the event into a global affair. Authorities estimated that well over 100,000 people attended the New York rally and that some 300,000 showed up in Los Angeles.

And while the inaugural 2017 marches functioned as a primal cry against Mr Trump's election victory, the 2018 iteration served in part as a nationwide political rally. Democratic elected officials and liberal celebrities urged attendees to channel their energy and frustration with Mr Trump's policies into November's midterm elections, where Democrats hope to wrest back control of Congress, governorships and state legislatures.

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After last year's event, a wave of women decided to run for elected office and the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct became a cultural phenomenon.

“We made a lot of noise,” said Elaine Wynn, an organiser. “But now how do we translate that noise into something concrete or fulfilling?”

Speakers this year made reference to the rolling backlash against sexual harassment and assault, with New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy relaying her experience with sexual violence and encouraging other women to tell their stories.

The marches occurred amid the battle over a US government shutdown, which has disrupted Mr Trump's celebrations of the anniversary of his inauguration. Protesters and supportive politicians linked the two, decrying Republican policies that helped lead to the shutdown — particularly Mr Trump's decision to nix an Obama-era program shielding young immigrants from deportation — and urging attendees to vote for a different agenda in the fall.

Linda Sarsour, one of the four organisers of last year's Washington march, told the Associated Press that Las Vegas was set to hold a major rally on Sunday because it's a strategic swing state that gave Hillary Clinton a narrow win in the presidential election and will have one of the most competitive Senate races in 2018.

Democrats believe they have a good chance of winning the seat held by embattled Republican Senator Dean Heller and weakening the Republicans' hold on the chamber, where they have a 51-49 seat advantage.

Organisers say Nevada is also a microcosm of larger national issues such as immigration and gun control after Las Vegas became the scene of the deadliest mass shooting in modern history.

Agencies contributed to this report

Key Points

• Marches take place amid a US government shutdown
• New marches are part of a campaign to help Democrats re-take control of Congress and eventually impeach President Donald Trump
• Millions were involved in the global protests last year

[20 January 2018 14:33 · Kristin Hugo]

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the women's marches around the world, a year to the day since hundreds of thousands of people too to the streets to protest Donald Trump's inauguration.

[20 January 2018 14:35 · Kristin Hugo]

They main march was in Washington DC, which will be repeated today - but millions around the world took to the streets on 21 January 2017.

[20 January 2018 14:36 · Kristin Hugo]

Marches will be repeated globally over the weekend, with large gatherings expected in Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

[20 January 2018 14:37 · Kristin Hugo]

This year's demonstration is being held in coordination with rallies planned for the weekend in some 250 other cities across the United States and overseas.

"People were pretty damn mad last year and they're pretty damn mad this year," said Tamika Mallory, co-president of the Women's March board.

[20 January 2018 14:38 · Kristin Hugo]

Despite the more modest expectations this year, organisers hope to build on the raw energy felt by Trump opponents immediately after his surprise election victory and channel it into gains for progressive candidates in November's midterm elections, using the theme "Power to the Polls."

Specifically, organisers want to register a million new voters and get more strong advocates for women's rights into office.

[20 January 2018 14:57 · Kristin Hugo]

The marches come amid a tumultuous time in Washington, with government having shut down on Saturday as Republicans and Democrats failed to pass a new spending bill

[20 January 2018 14:59 · Kristin Hugo]

Some of the policies protesters object too are Mr Trump's moves on reproductive health and his anti-abortion stance. On Friday, the president addressed the March for Life rally in Washington DC.

[20 January 2018 15:02 · Kristin Hugo]

Linda Sarsour, one of the four organisers of last year's Washington march, told the Associated Press that Las Vegas is a place for a major rally on Sunday because it's a strategic swing state that gave Hillary Clinton a narrow win in the presidential election and will have one of the most competitive Senate races in 2018. 

Democrats believe they have a good chance of winning the seat held by embattled Republican Senator Dean Heller and weakening the GOP's hold on the chamber. 

Organisers also say Nevada is also a microcosm of larger national issues such as immigration and gun control after Las Vegas became the scene of the deadliest mass shooting in modern history. 

Following the October massacre, the rally is being held at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' stadium 10 miles southeast of the famous Strip where a gunman opened fire on a concert, killing 58 people. 

[20 January 2018 15:37 · Kristin Hugo]

Record numbers of women have put themselves forward to run in US elections this year - one of the direct consequences of last year's marches. We tell some of their stories here:

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[20 January 2018 15:51 · Kristin Hugo]

Pictures of marches are starting to come in from across the US, including this one from North Carolina.

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