Thousands are expected to join The Women’s March on London on Saturday 21 January, as part of a wave of international action timed to take place on the first day of Donald Trump’s US Presidency.
Presently, women’s marches are being planned in 62 cities in 32 countries from New Zealand to Hawaii with the number increasing daily.
The London march, spearheaded by women from all quarters, has been triggered by widespread apprehension at the threat to human rights anticipated in the wake of recent political events.
Organisers of the London march have already galvanised enormous support and are inviting anyone with any interest in preserving and defending those rights, to take part and show their opposition.
Organisations supporting the event include Amnesty International, Unite, Liberty, CND, Pride London, Black Pride, Women’s Equality Party, The Green Party, Solidarity with Refugees, NUS, British Scientists for the EU, Women 4 Refugee Women and Women for Women International (UK).
Celebrity supporters on social media include Frankie Boyle, Alexa Chung, Charlotte Church, Pixie Geldof, Bianca Jagger, Sir Ian McKellen, June Sarpong and Hardeep Sing Kholi.
The March begins at 12 noon at Grosvenor Square and finishes at Trafalgar Square, where there will be a rally (from 2pm-3.30pm).
Television and radio personality Sandi Toksvig will host the rally, featuring Yvette Cooper, Bianca Jagger, comedian Sajeela Kershi, Sara Pascoe, pop-up choir Holler4 and other performers and keynote speakers from political parties and activist groups.
The day will finish with a live link-up to the US, where millions of people will continue the march in every major city across North America, with the largest in Washington DC, where 500,000 are expected.
Explaining the background to the march on Facebook, the organisers, said: “We, the organisers of the London march, call on people of all genders, all political persuasions, to march in London as part of an international day of action in solidarity.
“We will march, wherever we march, for the protection of our fundamental rights and for the safeguarding of freedoms threatened by recent political events. We unite and stand together for the dignity and equality of all peoples, for the safety and health of our planet and for the strength of our vibrant and diverse communities.
“We will come together in the spirit of democracy, honouring the champions of human rights, dignity and justice who have come before us, in numbers too great to ignore. The politics of fear have no place in 2017”
Pride in London’s Co-Chair Alison Camps, said: “Pride in London is the UK’s largest celebration of diversity and inclusivity. We exist to promote equality, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, faith, ability or sexuality. We stand alongside the organisers of the Women’s March on London, in solidarity with women everywhere, and in defence of the rights that some would deny us. We will be proudly marching on January 21st, under the Pride in London colours, grateful that we live in a city where being a woman is far less of a struggle than it is in other parts of the world, but also mindful that there is still work to be done here to achieve proper gender equality.”