Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda and Natalie Portman will be among 150,000 marchers expected to rally Saturday in downtown Los Angeles in solidarity with the mostly anti-Trump Women’s March on Washington.
Alfre Woodard, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Jamie Lee Curtis and Laverne Cox are some of the other celebrities expected to attend.
“We stand together in solidarity for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health and our families — recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country,” according to event organizers.
They stressed that the event is non-partisan and not a protest, but a “celebration of human rights.”
However, the Washington, D.C., march that sparked local “sister” marches like the one in Los Angeles was deliberately planned for the day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration. And many of the individuals and groups planning to participate stand in opposition to Trump and his policies as laid out on the campaign trail and during his transition to office.
Streisand and Fonda are well known for their liberal political views throughout their careers.
“In a time when we are all wondering what we can do, we can do this … let them hear our voice!” march organizer Deena Katz said in a statement.
The expected massive turnout would dwarf marches in Los Angeles Friday at the same time as Trump’s inauguration festivities. Protest organizers had expected 10,000 people, but only a few thousand showed up. Officials speculated that Friday’s downpour may have dampened the crowd’s enthusiasm for walking to City Hall.
But rain is not in the forecast for Saturday’s massive Los Angeles march, where police presence will be significant. While the Los Angeles protests Friday were peaceful, violence broke out and numerous arrests were made in Washington D.C. after Trump was sworn in as the 45th president.
Event organizers for Saturday’s Women’s March-Los Angeles say the day is designed to unify communities and make a stand for “justice and equity for all.”
Let’s ALL work to ensure that the public imagery represents the experience of solidarity and hope that these marches present.Thank you! WMLA
— WomensMarchLA (@womensmarchla) January 20, 2017
“In a time when we are all wondering what we can do, we can do this … let them hear our voice!” march organizer Deena Katz said in a statement.
In addition to film stars, public officials will also be out in force, with many scheduled to speak before and after the approximately one-mile march from Pershing Square to City Hall, set to begin at 10 a.m.
In a sign that the rally is far from a women-only event, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, City Councilmen Paul Koretz and Mike Bonin and former mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are all expected to offer words of encouragement to the crowd.
“Women’s rights are human rights,” organizer Emiliana Guereca said.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn is planning to attend.
“I am marching Saturday because I want to show my support for the millions of Americans who continue to believe that we should be a nation that respects and supports everyone whether they are a woman, a man, an immigrant, gay, straight, trans, poor or Muslim,” Hahn said. “We need to lead by example and fight to make Los Angeles County a model for the nation.”
As of midday Friday, 84,000 people had indicated they would attend and another 72,000 expressed interest in attending, according to the event’s Facebook page. Metro officials have added service and beefed up security to accommodate the anticipated crowd.
Groups backing a wide variety of policy priorities are expected to join, and at least one group has scheduled its own alternate ending to the day. AF3IRM and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network is set to leave the main march at noon and lead a “Chant Down the Walls” action at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Women’s March LA may also draw pro-Trump protesters, but organizers are committed to maintaining the peace. They took to Twitter Friday to offer what will likely be one of many reminders to those planning to attend.
“Do not rise to provocation; if asked bullying or intimidating or inciting questions, don’t engage,” the tweet read.
The gathering is expected to end at 4 p.m.
— City News Service