The Women’s March on Madison officially began at noon Saturday, but the passion that fueled it had been burning for many weeks prior. In response to Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 45th U.S. president, up to 100,000 people gathered in downtown Madison to express concern and empathy for women as well as the many other minorities who may feel threatened by the new president and his administration.

Creative signs supported multiple issues, including reproductive rights, religious freedom, immigration legislation reform, public education and anti-gun laws. Authentic, organic and passionate responses to the question “Why are you marching today?” were peppered around the crowd, inspiring others nearby to do the same.

Many generations of “nasty women” were in attendance, from young granddaughters to enthusiastic great-grandmothers. 

The march was peaceful, passionate and powerful. Chants of “no hate / no fear / everyone is welcome here,” “they go low / we go high” and “show me what democracy looks like / this is what democracy looks like” resonated through the crowd as it marched for hours down State Street toward the Capitol. No instances of violence were reported.