In Los Angeles, women march to send message

Jan. 21--Thousands of people have gathered to march through downtown Los Angeles a day after President Donald Trump's inauguration in a demonstration aimed at unity and protecting rights.

At least 100,000 people were expected to join the "Women's March Los Angeles." The theme is "hear our voice."

By 9:30 a.m., Pershing Square was filled with demonstrators. They carried signs that reference gender, reproductive rights, immigration and education. They'll march one mile from Pershing Square to City Hall and then back again.

Michael Giang, 43, of Los Angeles, called the turnout amazing.

"This crowd. I didn't expect it to be this big...it's historic," he said.

It's an all-ages crowd. Tricia Loper brought her children Zoe, 7, and Colton, 9.

"It's important that all of our children have a voice in the political system," Loper said.

Jane Fonda is expected to be there. State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, is one of many speakers.

The march, like hundreds of others planned worldwide, was sparked by an event nicknamed the Million Women's March in Washington, D.C.

"It represents that people can come together and fight for something," said activist Carmen Perez, the Oxnard native who is one of four co-chairs for the D.C. event.

The crowd includes 320 people who arrived in six buses organized by the Ventura County Political Women's Council. Laura Cook of Oxnard planned to attend with her 97-year-old mother, Elizabeth Pula, who will be in a wheelchair.

"I've never walked in a protest or a march before," said Pula, who lives in the New York City borough of Queens and was born before women gained the right to vote.

"I'd like to show this administration that we hope all the women will stick together," she said Friday. "In the future, we'll have more say so in government."

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