The women of Washington‚ DC‚ were still sleeping off the inauguration hangover on Saturday when Capetonians joined one of the hundreds of "sister marches" taking place worldwide in protest at the installation of Donald Trump as 45th president of the US.
The action began in the Company’s Garden‚ where more than 1‚000 people – women and men – gathered in a show of resistance to the new political era.
“The devil makes work for tiny hands”‚ “it’s time for women to stop being politely angry”‚ and “this pussy grabs back” were some of the posters in the crowd that made its way to the gates of parliament.
Melany Shmidt‚ who marched with her nine-year-old daughter‚ Kayla‚ said: “There is so much about Trump to protest about. Think climate change‚ xenophobia‚ you name it. But under all that is his disrespect for anyone different from him – and that includes women. That must surely resonate for many in our own South Africa.”
Capetonians take to the street to show solidarity with the rest of the world with anti-Trump marches. Picture: Esa Alexander
According to the organisers of the main march in Washington‚ many Americans have been “insulted‚ demonised and threatened” simply for being Muslims‚ immigrants‚ blacks or gays.
“We are confronted with the question of how to move forward in the face of national and international concern and fear‚” they said.
Anthony Molyneaux
Picture: Video journalist, Anthony Molyneaux
The Cape Town march was not without humour: one woman‚ protesting in a wheelchair being pushed by friends dressed as surgeons‚ caused a stir when she leapt to her feet to greet an old friend.
A man in the Company’s Garden used the opportunity to spread the gospel‚ continually shouting‚ "Stop looking at Trump and complaining about him. Rather put your faith in God.”
The women’s march in Washington was set to start at 5pm South African time.
TMG Digital/The Times
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