Thousands rally against Trump in Washington ahead of inauguration

Thousands of mostly female demonstrators took to the streets of Washington on Saturday to protest President-elect Donald Trump two days before his inauguration.

The People's March – formerly known as the Women's March – has been held annually since 2017.

A coalition of groups organized the movement with the stated goal of opposing “Trumpism,” according to its website. Smaller anti-Trump protests were held in New York and across the country in Seattle.

The rallies coincide with Trump's arrival in the nation's capital for a series of weekend events ahead of Monday's inauguration.

Saturday's People's March on Washington drew fewer people than its predecessors.

The organizers expected 50,000 people. About 5,000 showed up.

Protesters gathered at three parks before marching to the Lincoln Memorial for the rally.

The groups behind the march are described on its website as having “intersecting identities” and having “diverse issue-based interests” in causes as diverse as climate change, immigration and women's rights.

Organizers said they aimed to take on Trump by “using past successes and effective strategies against autocrats.”

A small group of Trump supporters were at the Washington Monument on Saturday. Noticing the men in red Make America Great Again hats, a leader of the People's March with a megaphone approached and chanted, “No Trump, no KKK.”

One of the men, Timothy Wallis, told The Associated Press that his friends had just bought the Trump hats from a street vendor.

Wallis, 58, of Pocatello, Idaho, said the People's March protesters had “absolute right” to demonstrate, though he said he was confused by the viciousness.

“It's sad where we are as a country,” he said.

The first iteration of the People's March took place after Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Women called for a protest the day after Trump's first inauguration, and hundreds of thousands responded.

The movement has spread beyond the nation's capital with millions of women across the US carrying signs against the Republican president and wearing pink knitted “hats” – a reference to a leaked tape in which Trump brags about grabbing female genitalia.

The Women's March remains a key part of the so-called resistance to Trump's agenda in the coming years.

But none of the subsequent marches are on the same scale.

Trump, meanwhile, was due to arrive in Washington later Saturday to kick off his inauguration celebrations with a private event including fireworks at his golf club in suburban Virginia.

The women who gathered in Washington to join the People's March told the BBC they had different motivations.

One protester, Brooke, said she wanted to show her support for abortion access.

“I'm really not happy with the way our country is voting,” she said. “I'm really sad that our country is leaning toward a president who has already failed us once, and that we didn't nominate a female candidate.

Another woman, Kayla, said a mix of emotions brought her to the streets of the nation's capital.

“Honestly, I'm just angry, I'm sad, I'm devastated,” she said.

Susie came from the San Francisco area to demonstrate with her sister Ann, who lives nearby. Both attended the Women's March after Trump's first inauguration and returned with “cat hats.”

Susie recalled the crowds of people in 2017. She said she hopes people will still take to the streets against Trump's policies.

“The stakes are higher this time,” she said. “Trump was encouraged. He made the billionaire class and the tech class bow down.”

Ann also said she recognizes that the protesters are “out of touch” with much of America. Trump won all seven swing states and the popular vote last November.

But she added: “We are still here and we will resist.”

Holly Honderich and Alex Lederman contributed to this report