Maritimers rally in support of Women's March on Washington

People turnedout in droves in many Maritime cities Saturday for solidarity rallies held in support of the Women's March on Washington.

Though it began as a specific response to U.S. President Donald Trump's election win, the marchhas since broadened its scope to social justice issues relating to race, religion, health care, immigration and LGBTrights.

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More than1,000 people gathered in Halifax for a rally at the Grand Parade in the city's downtown.

People wearing pink hats and hoisting signs reading "The Future is Female" and "Make America Kind Again"sang, chanted and cheered together for nearly two hours.

'We are all feminists'

"I came here today because the election had me feeling despondent, said Wendy MacAskillofSackville, N.S. "On behalf of the girls and women in my family, I felt it was my duty to come here today be active and involved and aware."

"We are all feminists and we believe there's still lots of work to be done," she said.

Wade MacIntyre saidhe wasstanding in solidarity with his wife and daughter.

"The actions of DonaldTrump as expressed through his words scare me," he said. "Ithink they're endangering women and women's rights."

Something hopeful

El Jones, a former poet laureate for Halifax, was one of the speakers.

"We are the bosses called bitches for our ambition. We run the whole office and are called assistants," she said as the crowd cheered.

Dawn Ferris, one of the rally's organizers, told Radio-Canadathe attendance was beyond her expectations. She believes people wanted something hopeful to participate in after being devastated by the U.S.election results.

Rhetoric has 'seeped into' Canada

During last year's presidential campaign there were accusations of sexual misconduct against Trump, andhe cameunder attack from those who felt some of his comments toward women were disrespectful.

Ferris said the new president's rhetoric aboutwomen and minority groups is troubling for Canada.

"One might believe that this is focused on the states, but the language of the divisive and hateful nature of the Trump campaign has actually seeped into our political conversations with the Kellie Leitches and the Kevin O'Learys, the extremists, and we have to make sure that we don't let that happen here," she said.

Events throughout Maritimes

Events werealso happening inFredericton, Saint John,Moncton, Charlottetown and Sydney, as well as smaller communities including Wolfville and Digby.

A large crowd gathered in in Saint John.

A rally was held in Fredericton.

People gathered outsideProvince House in Charlottetown.

A rally planned for St. John's, N.L., was moved to a virtual platform because of a blizzard there.

Demonstrations wereplanned in every major Canadian city as well as many smaller centres. Organizers said30 events in all hadbeen organized across Canada.

• Read about marches in Toronto, Winnipeg, and Montreal

There are also hundreds of protest marches organized in more than 30 other countries.