Washington - Donald Trump may have struggled to garner big
names to perform at his inauguration on Friday, but a major women's
rights march to take place the following day has had much more luck
in attracting a star-studded following.
Scores of actors, singers and television stars have voiced their
support for the Women's March on Washington, with many planning to
attend.
Cher called on her fans to "PROTEST TRUMP REGIME" on Twitter and
advised those who couldn't make it to the protest to boycott
television coverage of the swearing-in ceremony.
Actor America Ferrera from the hit TV series "Ugly Betty" wrote on
Instagram: "My brown, immigrant, vagina-having ass will be there!"
Beyonce, who performed at outgoing President Barack Obama's 2013
inauguration, has not yet confirmed her attendance at Saturday's
march. She posted the event's poster on Facebook with the message:
"[w]e raise our voices as mothers, as artists, and as activists."
A photo posted by America Ferrera (@americaferrera) on Dec 21, 2016 at 10:21am PST
Around 2 000 protesters are expected to descend on the US capital on
the first full day of Trump's presidency.
Actresses Julian Moore, Amy Adams and Patricia Arquette are set to
join them, with their male counterparts Robert DeNiro, Paul Rudd and
Tim Robbins also on the Women's March list of celebrity supporters.
Hollywood star Scarlett Johannson is set to give a speech at the
event, alongside civil rights activist Angela Davis and feminist
author Gloria Steinem.
Comedian Amy Schumer and popstar Katy Perry will also be there,
according to media reports.
Numerous rights groups have pledged allegiance to the movement, which
grew out of smaller events groups posted on social media in the weeks
following Trump's election. The protesters say they want to show a
clear signal to the new presidency on the importance of women's
rights.
Trump has been dogged by accusations of sexism and even sexual
assault since a video emerged in October of him bragging about his
ability to grope women with impunity. His pledges to abolish abortion
rights and scrap funding to family planning services have also
attracted vehement opposition by women's rights group.