Tens Of Thousands Descend On Texas Capitol For 'Women's March ATX'

AUSTIN, TX — Some 40,000 people descended on the grounds of the Texas Capitol as part of the Women's March movement, a reaction to the inauguration of Donald Trump by activists calling for women's rights to be safeguarded under the 45th president's administration.

The local rally was one of about 300 "sister marches" occurring throughout the country to complement the main march in Washington, D.C. For the local version, dubbed "Women's March on ATX," several gatherings throughout the city converged at the Capitol by noon, with more than 30,000 would-be participants responding to organizers with their RSVP on a Facebook event page.

By the time the groups converged, the collected humanity was massive. Police told KEYE-TV they placed the crowd estimate at 40,000, but subsequent counts went as high as 100,000. Those high numbers were visually evident, with some 20 downtown streets blocked off to accommodate the throngs.

One local organizer, Edie Cassell, snapped a photo of the phalanx of protesters as marchers headed en masse to the state Capitol:

Among the speakers at the event were state Sen. Wendy Davis, Texas House Rep. Senfronia Thompson and author Lizzie Velasquez.This march was produced by Women Rising and Taylor Collective Solutions with partner organizations that included Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, Texas Freedom Network, Progress Texas and Annie's List.

"Wendy Davis just said, 'We want it all' and that was the message of the crowd today," Cassell said. "We are here. We will not be silenced by bullying. We will march for American liberties. Everyone was empowered by the huge turnout—exhilarated."

The peaceful protest was in response to what many categorize as divisive rhetoric by Trump as it relates to women. Some of the signs carried by marchers made reference to a surreptitiously recorded videotape emerging during the primary campaign of Trump explaining to a celebrity reporter of his ability to touch women's private parts by virtue of his fame and power.

"I wouldn't have missed it," Alice Delaney said of about her presence at the march. In town from Boston to visit local friends, she expressed concern not only about the future of women's rights but of federal grants under the purview of the Trump administration long earmarked for the arts and humanities.

As for Trump's perceived grabby hands: "No, you can't have that," she said. "You can't have that from any of these people," she added, pointing to the huge crowds primarily comprising women but dotted with men expressing their support of women's rights too.

Joyce Nobis drove all the way from Waco to participate. "I figure it's really important to raise your voice," she said, explaining why she attended. "Democracy is in peril."

Nobis said she came of age during the turbulent 60s as women began to voice their demands for equality: "As women, we're more than objects," she said. "I can't believe we're here at this point."

To learn more about Saturday's march, visit marchonaustin.com or facebook.com/womensmarchonaustin

>>> Photos by Tony Cantu