Thousands of Women Target World's 'Biggest Bully'

Thousands gathered in cities across the country Saturday as part of the nationwide Women's March rallies focused on issues such as climate change, pay equity, reproductive rights and immigration, the AP reports. Hundreds showed up in New York City and thousands in Washington, DC, for the rallies, which aim to harness the political power of women, although crowds were noticeably smaller than in previous years. Marches were scheduled Saturday in more than 180 cities. The first marches in 2017 drew hundreds of thousands of people to rallies in cities across the country on the day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated. That year's DC march drew close to 1 million people. Among today's events:

• In Manhattan on Saturday, hundreds of people who gathered at separate events in Foley Square and Columbus Circle planned to converge at Times Square as part of a “Rise and Roar" rally. "Today, we will be the change that is needed in this world! Today, we rise into our power!" activist Donna Hill told a cheering crowd in Foley Square.
• In downtown Los Angeles, thousands of men, women, and children filled several blocks as they made their way from a plaza to a park adjacent to City Hall, where a rally featured speeches by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Rep. Maxine Waters, and others.
• In Denver, organizers opted to skip the rally after the march and instead invited participants to meet with local organizations to learn more about issues such as reproductive rights, climate change, gun safety and voting.
• Several thousand came out for the protest in Washington, far fewer than last year when about 100,000 people held a rally east of the White House. In Washington, three key issues seemed to galvanize most of the protesters: climate change, immigration and reproductive rights.
• Connecticut resident Peta Madry was in Washington for her fourth Women’s March with her sister. "Look what [President Trump] is doing to Greta Thunberg," Madry said, referring to the teenage climate activist. "He's the biggest bully in the world."

(More women's rights stories.)