Thousands gather in Vancouver to support U.S. Women's March

Tens of thousands of people gathered at Vancouver's Jack Poole Plaza Saturday morningand marched through the streets of the city's downtown core as part of the Women's March Vancouver.

The march, which began at 10 a.m. and wrapped up after noon,was one of many rallies around the world in support of the Women's March in Washington, D.C. an event to show support for women's rights and human rights a day after Donald Trump's inauguration as U.S. president.

Vancouver marchers walkedpast the U.S. Consulate General and theTrump Tower in downtown Vancouver before they returned to theplaza to hear from several speakers.

Many of those walkingworethe pink, knitted caps known as"Pussyhats".

B.C. Federation of Labour president Irene Lanzinger, one of the rally's organizers, estimated that between 10,000 to15,000 people came out to the event.

Lanzinger said she wasn't surprised by the large turnout.

"There's a kind of galvanization of people who want to push back on the idea that we are going to go any way backwards on human rights, that we are going to accept any level of misogyny or racism," she said.

Lisa Matsuzakiattended the eventwith her four-year-old daughter who carrieda sign that read "Solidarity sisters."

"I wanted to set an example, for her to know that she has power ... that her voice is important," said Matsuzaki.

Others held signs with slogans such as "Make women come first," and "Build respect, not walls."

Some of those marching left their signs on the construction fence outside of Trump Tower.

The rally in Vancouver was just one of about 20 eventsthat took place in communitiesacross B.C., including Bowen Island,Revelstoke, Salmon Arm andTofino.

With files from Kamil Karamali and Brenna Rose.