Thousands descend on downtown Los Angeles for 3rd annual Women's March

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Saturday morning for the third-annual Women's March, while activists did the same in cities such as San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

"It feels powerful, it feels amazing to be here," said Guadalupe Elizarraras, who participated in the L.A. event with her young daughter. "I'm so proud to be here with her and to teach her this lesson -- when we don't agree with things, we need to come out and we need to have our voices heard."

Men and women carried homemade signs that said "sisterhood knows know religion" and "all are welcome here" as they rallied at Pershing Square and then made their way to Grand Park.

"It's important that women and those who believe in women's rights should right now, more than ever, show support of the mission which is about equity for all people," Los Angeles Democratic Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo said.

Marcher Abdullah Hall said there was a feeling of unity and togetherness during the peaceful demonstration.

The original march in 2017, the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration, drew hundreds of thousands of people to Washington and dozens of other cities.

Turnout this year was expected to be lower amid an intense ideological debate among the movement's leaders. In November, Teresa Shook, one of the movement's founders, accused the four main leaders of the national march organization of anti-Semitism.

Ellen Klugman of Marina Del Rey said she was marching for the third straight year to show continued support for the movement.

She said: "Democracy is not a spectator sport and I came out to continue to stand for that proposition. If I don't go, who will?"