One hour before the Women’s March in Ottawa on Jan. 21, about 20 people stood at the Human Rights Memorial, chatting, smiling, and sipping hot drinks while the fog settled over downtown Ottawa.
One little girl stood with a sign that read, “Women can be president too.” By the start of the march at 11:00 A.M., what at first was just a handful of people had become hundreds—and by the end of the march, thousands.
The Ottawa Police estimated between 6,000 and 8,000 people marched from Elgin Street down Laurier Avenue to Bronson Centre. The sea of supporters were chanting, wearing pink “pussy hats,” and holding picket signs with catchy slogans.
Only 800 protestors were allowed in the Bronson Centre for musical performances and speeches after the march, which was the largest venue the organizers could secure.
The Ottawa rally was just one of over 30 marches across the country, joining a global movement aiming to fight for women’s rights.
Catherine Butler, the lead organizer of the Ottawa march, said there were two reasons for the protest. First, to stand in solidarity with women in the U.S. and second, to make “a very clear, proactive act on the part of Ottawa women to tell the citizenry, politicians, and political parties that this is a shot over the bow.”