Protesters vow to continue marching prior to Trump's inauguration

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Thousands of people have gathered in Washington to protest president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, as activists for women’s rights, racial justice and other causes rallied against incoming policies they say will threaten their constitutional rights during the Republican’s second term.

Some in the crowd wore the pink hats that marked the much-larger protest against Trump’s first inauguration in 2017.

They wound through downtown amid a light rain on Saturday (local time), past the White House and toward the Lincoln Memorial along the National Mall for the “People’s March”.

It comes as Trump arrived in Washington to celebrate with family, supporters and political allies ahead of his second inauguration.

Celebrations of his return to power were set to get underway on Saturday evening with a fireworks showcase at his Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, about 50km outside Washington.

He arrived as organisers of Monday’s Inauguration Day ceremony most of the outdoor events, including the swearing-in ceremony that traditionally takes place on the steps of the US Capitol, due to forecasted frigid temperatures.

A prominent building with tightened security surrounding it.

Security measures have been significantly heightened around the US Capitol and its surroundings ahead of Donald Trump’s second inauguration. Source: Getty / Anadolu/Anadolu

Protests against Trump’s inauguration are smaller this time, in part because the US women’s rights movement seems more fractured to many activists after Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in November.

Organisers predicted 50,000 would attend, while local police expected about 25,000. More than 300 other marches were planned nationwide.

Reproductive rights groups joined activists for civil rights, the environment and other causes in organising the march against Trump.

Trump prepares to take office

He is preparing to take office on Monday (local time), having lost his first re-election bid in 2020 to President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

In both of his victories, Trump defeated candidates who each would have been the first female US president: Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Harris last year.

This time, Trump won all seven battleground states to secure the Electoral College needed for the presidency, and carried the popular vote in a first for Republicans in two decades.

Trump has vowed to make sweeping changes on day one, from to dismantling parts of the federal government.

“A lot of people are disillusioned,” said Olivia Hoffman, 26, who works at the California-based Young Women’s Freedom Center, which supports impoverished women and transgender youth. Hoffman travelled with her mother to march in the nation’s capital.

“A lot of people feel like we’ve been fighting for the same things for so long.”

‘We’re not going to back down’

Saturday’s march attracted a wide range of causes from immigration and democracy to climate change and the Gaza war.

The protests were largely peaceful amid heightened security as police cars, with sirens on, drove nearby. One protester in a red MAGA hat who emerged near the front of the march was led away by authorities, and anti-abortion activists displayed graphic posters near the crowd’s final gathering spot.

Mini Timmaraju, chief executive of the advocacy group Reproductive Freedom for All, praised the crowd’s gathering “in the face of what’s going to be some really horrible extremism”.

Protesters are seen at a march, holding signs.

Protesters attend the “People’s March on Washington” ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration. Credit: Christopher Furlong

With Trump’s Republicans also controlling Congress and conservatives leading the US Supreme Court, it is unclear how activists or Democrats can counter Trump’s plans.

“I’m glad I can see some people here are hopeful,” said Nancy Robinson, a 65-year-old retired printing and tech specialist from Maryland.

“That’s not me. I think we’re doomed.”

Other protests are planned over the weekend, including on inauguration day, which falls on Martin Luther King Jr Day. Civil rights leaders say they will rally and continue to mobilise under Trump’s administration.

“It’s warming that people still care,” said Preethi Murthy, 28, who is based in Washington and works in global health.

“We have to show that we’re bigger in numbers and we’re not going to back down.”