The Women’s March on Washington set off at 10am EST Saturday in Washington, D.C. Responding to the frightening rhetoric of the past election, the marchers are demonstrating a show of solidarity “in numbers too great to ignore,” the organizers write, to fight for human rights and inclusive communities.

Hundreds of thousands have signed up to march in D.C., and marches are also taking place Saturday in over 600 cities around the world. 

Nisha Varia, Women’s Rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, explained why this march feels so important to so many:

“In that same time,” Varia continues,” I have seen the dignity and strength with which survivors of abuse have moved forward. I have seen scrappy grassroots women’s organizations grow in reach and impact. I have seen how women and men, civil society organizations, the press, and governments can work together to put in place key protections to safeguard women’s rights.”