Women's March May Outshine Trump Inauguration

Donald Trump could be outshined by hundreds of thousands of people who will join the “Women’s March” through the nation’s capital and sister marches worldwide on the day after the inauguration.

About 215,000 people have already RSVP’ed for the Washington, D.C. march, according to the event’s Facebook page. Organizers predict the number of demonstrators could surpass the number of inauguration attendees.

Hollywood stars including Samantha Bee, Scarlett Johansson, Cher, Julianne Moore and Chelsea Handler are planning to march alongside everyday American women, all of them celebrating their shared humanity.

Also Read: Hear Fiona Apple's Anti-Trump Track 'Tiny Hands' (Audio)

A link where people can say they plan to attend the Washington Women’s March was down Thursday night because it was overwhelmed with traffic. Organizers of the march say more than 600 sister marches will be held around the world, with over 1.3 million people expected to attend.

“I’m for my gay and lesbian friends and family, my Muslim neighbor, my Latina nanny and I’m marching for myself as a woman,” Eva Steortz, a marketing consultant for major studios, told TheWrap. “Most importantly, I’m marching for all the Trump supporters who still don’t get it.”

Steortz is traveling to D.C. with six female friends, all industry executives who feel “the stakes are really high.”

Also Read: TheWrap Launches BE Conference for Millennial Women in Media, Entertainment, Technology

“It’s a huge opportunity to be part of history,” she said.

The New York Daily News reported last week that at least 1,200 bus permits have been requested for the RFK Stadium parking lot in Washington for the march on Saturday. That’s compared to only 200 that had been requested for the inauguration on Friday, according to D.C. Councilman Charles Allen.

“We join in diversity to show our presence in numbers too great to ignore,” march organizers said in a statement. “The Women’s March on Washington will send a bold message to our new administration on their first day in office, and to the world that women’s rights are human rights.”

While President Obama’s first inaugural festivities stretched over five days. Trump’s will last just three.

In 2009, an estimated 1.8 million people attended President Barack Obama’s first inauguration. Planners expect no more than 900,000 people to attend Trump’s weekend celebrations.

Also Read: Women Filmmakers to March on Sundance Screens as Well as the Streets

There are also fewer inaugural balls planned. Bill Clinton racked up 14 official balls on the day he was sworn in. Barack and Michelle Obama attended 10 balls when he became president in 2008. Meanwhile, Trump will attend two official balls, followed by a ball saluting armed services and first responders.

While other inaugural parades lasted more than four hours, Trump’s salute through Pennsylvania Avenue is expected to last about 90 minutes, the shortest on record.

The Trump inaugural team did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s requests for comment. But Trump himself predicted a wonderful inauguration day.

“I will see you tomorrow and I don’t care frankly if it’s going to be beautiful or if it’s going to rain like crazy. It makes no difference to me,” he told supporters Thursday. “I have a feeling it’s going to be beautiful.”

But demand for tickets this year is low, according to a Hollywood insider who helped with previous inaugurations.

“They can’t give them away,” the insider said. “In 2008, you couldn’t get tickets even if you wanted to.”

A 2009 Daily News article, written days before Obama’s first inauguration, said that tickets to the event, which were supposed to be free, were “being peddled on eBay and Craigslist for up to $2,000 apiece.”

Also Read: Rebecca Ferguson Will Not Perform at Donald Trump's Inauguration After All

Yossi Rosenberg, who works for a startup company in New York City, told TheWrap he bought two inaugural tickets for $700, hoping to flip them for a profit, but was unable to find any buyers, even after advertising on Craig’s List.

“His popularity is the lowest of any president ever,” Rosenberg said, adding that now that he’s stuck with the tickets, he may end up going to the inauguration.

As TheWrap first reported, Trump’s inauguration has been marked by relatively low-wattage stars compared to inaugurations past.

A growing list of A-list artists, including Celine Dion and Elton John, have declined to perform. Singers who have agreed to perform at Trump’s inauguration have faced a backlash.

But few seem afraid of showing up to the women’s marches.

“I want to open people’s eyes to the human rights issues,” Steortz said. “It’s important to come out and raise your voice.”

53 Stars Who Protested Trump at Women's March, From Madonna to Scarlett Johansson (Photos)

The day after Donald Trump was sworn is as the 45th President of the United States, hundreds of thousands of protesters took part in the Women's March in Washington, D.C., and in several other cities around the world. The national march has drawn the attention of many celebrities, including Hillary Clinton supporters.
Getty
America Ferrara watched Clinton's defeat at the Democratic candidate's New York City watch party. She has called on artists to "stand together in solidarity for the protection, dignity and rights of our communities."
Getty
Ashley Judd, who briefly considered a Senate run in her native Kentucky, joined the rally in Washington, D.C.
Chloe Grace Moretz joined the marchers in Washington D.C.
Comedian Amy Schumer attended the D.C. March three months after Trump supporters walked out of one of her stand-up performances in Tampa.
Getty
Scarlet Johansson was announced as a D.C. March participant by the event organizers.
Getty
Jessica Chastain joined the marchers in Washington, D.C.
Maxwell performed for the crowd at the march in Washington, D.C.
Chelsea Handler, Maria Bello and Charlize Theron were among many stars who joined the march in Park City, Utah, on the first weekend of the Sundance Film Festival.
Alicia Keys joined other stars on stage in Washington, D.C.
Madonna performed on stage in Washington, D.C. -- and dropped a few F-bombs on live TV.
Janelle Monae, fresh off of "Hidden Figures," performed at the D.C. March.
Getty
"Taken" star Jennifer Beals (seen here with Chelsea Handler in Park City) told TheWrap: "I am going to march. I have a film at Sundance and there's a march planned there, I'm going to march, and use my voice, and stand up. It's no longer sufficient to sit behind your computer or just watch as events unfold. Your civil liberties are not necessarily guaranteed and you must learn to fight for them each and every day."
Actress Rebecca Hall British actress Rebecca Hall addressed a crowd outside the U.S. Embassy in London during the Women's March.
Emma Watson joins the crowd in Washington, D.C.
Filmmaker Peter Bratt and his actor brother Benjamin Bratt spoke out at the Women's March in Park City, Utah.
Anjelica Huston joins the crowd at the Women's March in Los Angeles.
Jessica Biel joins the crowd at the L.A. Women's March.
Actress and musician Juliette Lewis protests at the Women's March in L.A.
Artist Shepard Fairey and actor James Franco attend the Women's March in Los Angeles.
Miley Cyrus takes a bite out of her protest sign at the L.A. Women's March.
Vanessa Hudgens holds a sign at the L.A. Women's March.
Connie Britton addressed the crowd at the Women's March rally in Park City, Utah.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus addresses L.A. crowd.
One of the youngest celebrities taking part in the march is Yara Shahidi from "Black-ish," which just aired an episode addressing Trump's victory. She was joined by her co-star, Tracee Ellis Ross, who had said her schedule would prevent her from attending.
Getty
Jane Fonda spoke at the Los Angeles Women's March, but first she will promote it with an interview on "Real Time With Bill Maher."
Oscar-winning documentarian Michael Moore may have predicted Trump's electoral win but he still joined the protest in Washington, D.C.
Singer Kesha joined the L.A. protest, complete with a sign criticizing Donald Trump's sons.
Another teen celebrity attending is "Girl Meets World" star Rowan Blanchard. The 15-year-old actress will speak prior to the Los Angeles Women's March at Pershing Square.
Getty
Rufus Wainwright performed at the L.A. version of the Women's March.
Getty Images
Mary Steenburgen carried a handmade sign at the Women's March in Park City, Utah.
Getty Images
Natalie Portman speaks in downtown L.A.
TV producer Deena Katz and Jamie Lee Curtis at the L.A. Women's March.
Helen Hunt joins crowd in L.A.'s Women's March.
Debbie Allen and Kerry Washington enjoy a moment at the Women's March in L.A.
Katy Perry donned a yellow beret and marched in Washington, D.C. She had performed at the Democratic National Convention and allowed Clinton to use her song "Roar" in a campaign ad.
Getty
"Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi told Rolling Stone she planned to attend the march in D.C.: "I am offended on behalf of Mexicans. I am offended on behalf of Muslims. I am offended on behalf of everything that this country and the Constitution stands for."
Samantha Bee openly supported Clinton on her show "Full Frontal" during the primary and general elections. She also planned to join the D.C. march.
Getty
Lupita Nyong'o, who has a history of appearing at women's health rights rallies, also planned to march in D.C.
Zendaya posted a painting promoting the D.C. March on her Instagram account.
Cher was also at Clinton's election-night event and became known for her intense anti-Trump tweets last year. Her participation in the D.C. March was announced through its organizers.
Getty
Olivia Wilde has been an avid promoter of the March on Instagram. "We work peacefully while recognizing there is no true peace without justice and equity for all," she wrote in a recent post. "Join the movement! Men are welcome!"
"Absolutely Fabulous" star Mo Gaffney told TheWrap she planned to go to the Washington march after spending inauguration day "girding my loins, figuratively -- and literally because... well, Trump and grabbing."
Julianne Moore, who called Trump's rhetoric during the election "incredibly detrimental to us as a society," also took part in the D.C. march.
Getty
"Orange Is The New Black" star Uzo Aduba also planned to attend.
TheWrap
Other "OITNB" stars who were in attendance in D.C. included Lea DeLaria
Sheri Shepherd told TheWrap she will be at the Los Angeles march: "I'm gonna be there! I've got my flats and my heels."

1 of 47

Scores of famous faces joined the rallies in Washington, D.C., and other cities around the world

The day after Donald Trump was sworn is as the 45th President of the United States, hundreds of thousands of protesters took part in the Women's March in Washington, D.C., and in several other cities around the world. The national march has drawn the attention of many celebrities, including Hillary Clinton supporters.

View In Gallery

53 Stars Who Protested Trump at Women's March, From Madonna to Scarlett Johansson (Photos)

7DAYFREETRIAL

7
DAY
FREE
TRIAL