THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT

Women around the country and around the world are taking to the streets, inspired by the failed government of Donald Trump they are protesting and networking to build the movement for change.

usting off pink knit hats and brandishing colorful signs, marchers gathered Saturday in the shadow of the capital’s Lincoln Memorial, in midtown Manhattan and in scores of other venues across the country — not aiming to recreate the record-shattering crowds of the Women’s March a year ago this weekend, but vowing to make a mark at the ballot box.

Seeking to send a message of female empowerment and solidarity in the face of a divisive presidency that began a year ago Saturday, activists staged protest marches and voter-registration drives, with the #MeToo movement of recent months serving as a dramatic inflection point.

In Los Angeles, crowds gathered in Pershing Square for a rally before marching to Grand Park in front of City Hall.

The lineup was celebrity-heavy: Scheduled to take the stage were Scarlett Johansson, Megan Mullally, Olivia Munn, Olivia Wilde and Alfre Woodard.

Scarlett Cunningham-Young, 11, stood next to eight of her friends and their families, holding a sign with a quote by Malala Yousafzi. It was her second year attending the women’s march and she said she felt inspired being around the thousands of other marchers.

“I hope that this country wakes up and realizes that women and girls have voices too,” she said.

Sarbjit Singh, representing the group Sikhs of LA, set up a stand in Grand Park to feed marchers as they arrived.

“We’re here for human rights and we’re here for women’s rights,” said Singh as handed out bowls of rice and curry to bystanders. Volunteers also passed out tea and water.

In New York, crowds were backed up for dozens of blocks leading to the rally site on the edge of Central Park. Marchers in sashes with the words #MeToo and #TimesUp were at a standstill on side streets where pink "No Parking" police signs on barricades blocked off sidewalks.

Deborah Seidman, 58, created a design in the shape of a woman's body with the words "MeToo" and a raised fist in the center. Another marcher had a sign that read "I'm with her," with arrows pointing in every which direction.

Allies also took to social media to show support. “Last year was the reckoning — this year is the battle,” tweeted New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

In Washington, groups gathered under crystal-clear skies, with the monuments of the National Mall as an iconic backdrop. Brazilian drummers warmed up the crowd to cheers.

Nearly within shouting distance, President Trump was in Washington, having delayed a planned trip to his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, as a government shutdown took hold and lawmakers scrambled to negotiate a compromise.

More than 4,500 people marched through downtown Dallas. Many said they felt the need to demonstrate that Texas, a historically red state, is rapidly diversifying, especially in its largest cities.

"I'm rooting for Texas to become a swing state," said Andres Ramirez, 35, of Ft. Worth, who works in a call center and is campaigning for the Democrat who is attempting to unseat local U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions.

Attorney Marita Covarrubias, 54, brought her 17-year-old daughter and friend. "Living here in Texas, you don't see a lot of social activism," said Covarrubias, who grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from UC Berkeley. "Unfortunately things have not improved over the past year. Women really need to get together to take action on these issues."

In Atlanta, thousands of activists gathered at a squat, brightly painted warehouse in a poor but gentrifying neighborhood southwest of downtown as organizers set up booths on voting, women’s healthcare and civil rights.

Rather than march again, organizers of Power to the Polls planned the event to inspire more progressive candidates to run for office, register voters and educate activists on how they can effectively mobilize people to vote.

The point is to go beyond another feel-good moment, said Janel Green, one of the organizers of the Atlanta Women’s March last year. “We’ve already mobilized,” she said. “It’s time now to translate that momentum into impacting elections. We’ve got to develop strategies to mobilize and inform voters.”

Getting together is the beginning of what will come. Some of the special election results so far have benefitted a lot from what happened last year. May this year bring forth bigger and better results.