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Women Around World Rally in Solidarity With Washington March

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Participants prepare to march in Nairobi's Karura forest during the Women's March, Kenya. January 21, 2017. (J.Craig/VOA)
Participants prepare to march in Nairobi's Karura forest during the Women's March, Kenya. January 21, 2017. (J.Craig/VOA)

Women in major cities around the world demonstrated in solidarity with marchers in Washington who rallied Saturday en masse, a day after Donald Trump was sworn in as U.S. president.

Like the demonstration in the U.S. capital, many of the global protests were sparked by concern about women's rights, civil rights and environmental issues as Trump begins his term.

In Japan, hundreds of mostly American expatriates marched through Tokyo neighborhoods Friday, chanting slogans and carrying signs advocating love and compassion.

In Australia on Saturday, thousands of protesters marched past the American consulate in Sydney to challenge what rally organizers called the "hateful rhetoric" of the new U.S. president, accusing Trump of "normalizing sexism and racism."

People gather at Hyde Park during the Women's March rally protesting the start of Donald Trump's presidency, in Sydney, Australia, Jan. 21, 2017.
People gather at Hyde Park during the Women's March rally protesting the start of Donald Trump's presidency, in Sydney, Australia, Jan. 21, 2017.

"I am outraged when I look at the appointments of the Cabinet members. I mean, this is really stupidity taking over the world. This has global implications," said one female participant.

An estimated 80,000 people rallied in London at the American Embassy and marched to Trafalgar Square.

In Berlin, women held posters in front of the Brandenburg Gate, in one of seven rallies across Germany.

Participants prepare to march in Nairobi's Karura forest during the Women's March, Kenya. January 21, 2017. (J.Craig/VOA)
Participants prepare to march in Nairobi's Karura forest during the Women's March, Kenya. January 21, 2017. (J.Craig/VOA)

Protests were held in several other European cities, including Paris, Budapest, Amsterdam and The Hague.

Cape Town, South Africa, participated with a gathering in the city's Gardens neighborhood for what was billed as Sisters March Against Trump.

"There's no difference between women who are in the U.S. and here," Rachael Mwikali, who helped organize a march in Nairobi, told the Reuters news service.

Other African countries where demonstrations were planned included Nigeria, Malawi and Madagascar.

Marches were scheduled to take place on every continent, including Antarctica, where "eco-minded visitors on an expedition ship" planned to march onboard the ship while off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.

According to the website of the Women's March on Washington, nearly 700 "sister marches" with an estimated 2 million participants were scheduled.

Jill Craig in Nairobi and Phil Mercer in Sydney contributed to this report.

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