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WASHINGTON (CN) — More than a million people filled the streets of hundreds of U.S. cities Saturday, protesting a new administration they fear will roll back civil rights. Half a million marched on the White House; 120,000 protested in the Bay Area; 60,000 in Atlanta; 50,000 in Austin, Texas, and in New Orleans, a jazz funeral procession mourned the death of democracy, with an effigy of an orange-faced President Donald Trump in a coffin.
Organizers in Washington, D.C., who’d anticipated 200,000 participants for the Women’s March on Washington, estimated that half a million came for the peaceful event — more than had come for the Friday inauguration.
Anxiety seemed to predominate in the crowd, still feeling the deep divisions in a polarized country. Many criticized what they called Trump’s disparaging, sexist behavior and volatile temperament.
Countless signs referred to “pussy,” referring to the audiotape released during the campaign in which Trumped bragged about grabbing women by their genitals.
“We want a leader, not a creepy tweeter,” the crowd chanted. “No hate, no fear - immigrants are welcome here. “
Other chants included: “Lock him up,” and “Love trumps hate.”
Mary Helen Harris, 75, held a sign: “Been marching since 1963.” Her husband, Bob Harris, whom she married that year, held a sign: “Build bridges not walls.”
“We're concerned about the country,” Mary Harris said. “We don't know what’s next. I fear for my children and my grandchildren.”
Bob Harris said his wife’s mother was attending a finishing school in Germany when Hitler came to power.
“She said the teachers were all against Hitler and knew it was going to be trouble, but had no idea the extent the trouble would be,” Mary said, recalling her mother’s words.
Bob Harris, 75, said he’d never seen such misogyny and coarse rhetoric in America before Trump’s campaign.
“Reagan made me nervous when he was elected,” Bob Harris said. “But at least he had class and genuinely respected people, and was a genuinely likeable person and didn't denigrate people like Trump.”
Tara Pasricha, a young Capitol Area woman, said she’s cried a lot since Election Day.
“I'm very scared for all minorities, women, people of color, our climate, people's livelihoods and health," Pasricha said. “If you don't believe in facts and you don't believe in science, then what progress can you make, really?”
She held a cardboard cutout of Hillary Clinton as the march made its way from the National Mall along 14th Street.
The diversity of signs reflected the diversity of the marchers, many of whom were men. The placards spoke of immigrant rights, health care, women’s reproductive rights, and support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Polly, 34, who declined to give her last name, hoisted a sign with the names of 17 women of color who have been victims of police violence.
“As a woman of color myself, I do have a voice for me to stand up and represent and let it be known that they’re still human,” Polly said. She is from Jersey City. “I'll be their voice and I'll say their names until something is done about it.”
Protests were held in about 600 cities around the country. Polly said the nationwide movement was spurred by fear but also by hope.
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