Women's March marks end to 'couch potato politics'

Women march outside Trump Tower ahead of Donald Trump's election

As 200,000 people are expected to take part in Washington Women's March on Saturday, thousands are expected in London in a show of solidarity.

Celebrities including Alexa Chung and Pixie Geldof are among the 29,000 people who have so far signed up to attend the march in central London.

Despite being called a Women's March, organisers have told Newsbeat that everyone is welcome.

The aim is to promote human rights and equality issues, they say.

Although it's taking place the day after Donald Trump's inauguration, the London march isn't specifically anti-Trump.

So what exactly is it about?

The eight organisers behind the London march found each other on social media when they all had the same idea of a solidarity march.

Yoga teacher and food photographer Kimberly Espinel is one of them. She told Newsbeat that last year saw a "tipping point" in people's involvement in political and social issues - and that the march is reflecting that change.

"For a long time we had couch potato politics: we re-tweet a party line (or a political statement) and feel like we've been politically involved, or donate to charity at Christmas time and believe we've done enough to help those less fortunate," she told Newsbeat.

But huge events last year like Donald Trump's presidency, Jo Cox's murder, the crisis in Aleppo and the Brexit vote - and the polarised conversation around them - have made people realise they need to "stand up and get involved in the democratic process", adds Kimberly.

Alexa Chung tweets her support for the march

The organisers aren't calling for one particular outcome and won't be approaching the government with any specific aims.

Instead, they want the march to be an umbrella for many smaller causes. Groups representing everything from the humanitarian crisis in Syria, to disability rights groups and women who want abortion to be decriminalised in Ireland, will be there.

"We will march, wherever we march, for the protection of our fundamental rights and for the safeguarding of freedoms threatened by recent political events," reads a statement on the event's Facebook page.

"We unite and stand together for the dignity and equality of all peoples, for the safety and health of our planet and for the strength of our vibrant and diverse communities... The politics of fear have no place in 2017."

The march is supported by groups including Amnesty International, the Women's Equality Party and Pride.

It begins at noon at Grosvenor Square and finishes with a rally at Trafalgar Square and a live link-up to the United States.

Women protest outside Trump Tower before the billionaire was elected as president in November

Why are women marching in Washington?

The Washington March has a specifically female-focused agenda, after some people's fears that Donald Trump plans to cut back on reproductive and maternity rights.

The application for a permit to march said its purpose was to "come together in solidarity to express to the new administration and Congress that women's rights are human rights and our power cannot be ignored".

Not all American women are anti-Trump: 53% of white women voted for the billionaire, but 94% of black women and 68% Latino women voted for Hillary Clinton.

The London march is one of over 3600 taking place in cities around the world on the same day.

#WhyIMarch

In the run up to the hundreds of marches on Saturday, activists are posting photos on social media to explain why they are taking to the streets.

Jessica tweets #whyImarch in London

Laura writes why she's marching in Geneva

'If you're sick of feeling powerless and unheard then come out and join us', says the official London Women's March

Donna, on why she's marching in Washington

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