250,000 Participated In Women's March On Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) -- More than 50,000 people were expected to rally Saturday downtown for the Women's March On Chicago - but how much more?
The initial expectation more than tripled when officials announced 250,000 people were in attendance for the march.
Around 10:30 a.m. organizers announced the group reached 150,000 and was the second largest women's march outside of Washington.
"150,000 people in attendance - second largest @WomensMarch outside of DC!!!"
— Cause the Effect CHI (@CauseEffectCHI) January 21, 2017
Co-Chairs of @WomensMarchChi #WomensMarchCHI #whyIMarch pic.twitter.com/UFQOWYEbD9
And around 11:15 a.m. the city cancelled the march and organizers continued to rally in Grant Park.
We have reached capacity - over 150K! We are going to rally in place. #WomensMarch
— Womens March Chi (@womensmarchchi) January 21, 2017
Though some participants marched through the streets anyways.
By 12:45 Chicago became the largest women's march outside of Washington with an estimated attendance count of 250,000 people.
.@WomensMarchChi organizers say crowd numbers have now reached 250,000+ (estimates unconfirmed)#WomensMarchChi @womensmarchchi @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/FQuz8aTq2S
— Audrina Bigos (@AudrinaBigos) January 21, 2017
The event began with a rally at 10 a.m. Saturday on Columbus Drive between Jackson and Monroe. A march to Federal Plaza was then scheduled for 11:30 a.m. but was later cancelled due to the park reaching capacity.
Chicago Police said the rally was peaceful. Participants began clearing the streets around 1 p.m. Streets slowly reopened.
Crowds have begun dispersing and roads are slowly being reopened. #WomensMarchChi has been peaceful.
— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) January 21, 2017
Organizers want to make it known that this was not an Anti-Trump rally. It was a march on rights, especially women's rights.
Organizers said the women's march is meant to show global support for women's rights, human rights and social justice.
Chicago's march was just one of 250 scheduled around the world.