Brittany Martinez traveled to Washington with friends and their mothers on Saturday to advocate for women’s rights and immigration issues.

“We felt it was important to support women’s rights, equality, immigration—things that seem overlooked right now,” she shared with YSL News.

The group of six women waited in a park for the People’s March, the largest protest against Donald Trump planned before his inauguration on Monday. Martinez, from Jacksonville, Fla., wielded a sign that read “Public cervix announcement. My body, my choice.”

Thousands of people surrounded them, wearing pink knitted hats, scarves emblazoned with the Planned Parenthood logo, or apparel supporting Kamala Harris. A small girl perched on her father’s shoulders held a sign declaring “pizza rolls not gender roles.” Others displayed handmade signs with messages such as “new year, same fight,” “I’m pissed,” “feminists Trump fascists,” and “Trust Black women.”

Protest Prior to Trump’s Inauguration

The march kicked off at three parks located just blocks apart in downtown Washington, where participants gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for additional speeches and a resource fair. Each location focused on different issues like immigration, abortion rights, or climate change, allowing attendees to connect with topics they cared about.

The event has drawn comparisons to the Women’s March in 2017, which saw millions protesting in response to Hillary Clinton’s defeat and Trump’s history of derogatory remarks and sexual abuse allegations. The massive demonstrations a day after his inauguration in 2017 drew around 2.3 million people in the U.S. and abroad, far outnumbering Saturday’s turnout. The Women’s March organization was one of the key planners for the People’s March.

Tamika Middleton, managing director of the Women’s March, stated to YSL News that they didn’t aim to replicate that previous event.

“There was a very distinct atmosphere back then that we never intended to duplicate. It would be a mistake for us to try to bring back that unique energy,” Middleton explained. “Our goal is to cultivate a different kind of movement, focusing not just on how many people show up on that day, but on how we can engage people for the long haul.”

The march, which extended over five city blocks, took place just before a forecasted snowstorm and a cold snap expected to hit the area on Sunday. Light rain caused many attendees to wear ponchos by the time the event began. Volunteers were on hand to distribute hand warmers, granola bars, and free signs.

The anticipated drop in temperature forced Monday’s inauguration indoors and left many Trump-supporting visitors unable to watch the ceremony in unison. Few of them came to confront the anti-Trump demonstrators, with one man attempting to shout through a bullhorn about Jesus’s love but was drowned out by the crowd.

‘Still As Important Today’

The atmosphere mirrored that of the 2017 march, with pink knitted hats prevalent among the crowd.

Joan Snowdon mentioned that when Trump was reelected, she unearthed the suffragette-style sashes she had crafted for the 2017 march. She made the journey from Boston.

“Right after the election, I asked where those sashes were. They are just as important today as they were four years ago,” she noted. Snowdon appreciated that the March had expanded to include various issues while maintaining a focus on women’s rights.

‘Silence Can Be Fatal’

Deb Caldwell drove from Plymouth, Mich., accompanied by her sister-in-law and niece. She has been advocating for women’s rights since the age of 17 but did not attend the Washington march in 2017.

“We need to continue resisting and voicing our concerns because silence can be fatal,” Caldwell commented. “As I’ve aged, I’ve become more of a radical feminist because I recognize that women are one of the most oppressed groups, possibly the most oppressed group worldwide. It troubles me, especially since I have three granddaughters. It’s essential for people to keep speaking out.”

Sarah Wood and some friends took a bus from Philadelphia for the march. She wore a crocheted hat with ears that sported an American flag pattern. This was her first march.

“I was angry and in disbelief the last time, thinking naively it might not be as bad as I feared, but it turned out worse. I can only imagine how severe this new administration will be,” Wood expressed.

‘This Time, I’m Taking Action’

Kim Irish journeyed from upstate New York with her daughter, who was too young to attend the 2017 march. She expressed regret for missing it.

“A friend asked if we should wait for something bad to happen before protesting, and I said, ‘I already know what Trump stands for. This time, I’m not waiting,'” Irish stated.

Jackie Greto boarded a bus in Philadelphia around 3 a.m. to attend the march, with plans to return the same day. She felt compelled to join after skipping the 2017 demonstration.

“You reflect on what your mother and grandmother had to fight for, and it’s disheartening to think we might have to do it again. We can’t let that happen,” she remarked. “We have young nieces and daughters—what if they face these struggles without having a choice?”