A lot of women were hoping to see a female president sworn in this week. Instead, hundreds of thousands are headed to Washington to protest and raise awareness of human rights and social justice issues important to them.
Keri Tate of Springfield is among those who will be going by bus to the Women's March, set for Saturday. And she'll have a message for Donald Trump and Republicans controlling congress.
"I feel like it's my chance to stand up and say, very visibly, you may not on Day One proceed with this agenda. We're here. From the very first day we're going to be watching every single choice. And we will have something to say about it,” Tate said.
The March is bringing together activists and those who have been less outspoken, like Debbie Bandy of Springfield. She is related to central Illinois Republican congressman Rodney Davis:
“Yes I am his sister. I love him dearly. He is my baby brother, but we do have different political beliefs in some areas. In others, we have similar political beliefs. I can't let that get in the way of me doing what I think needs to be done to preserve and protect our precious democracy,” Bandy said.
Roscoe resident Elizabeth Lindquist knows a lot of participants who are gathering specifically to bring attention to women’s rights in the new administration. She has her own reason.
“I’m going to the march in Chicago because, that is having a president that doesn’t have conflicts of interest who we can trust to put the needs of the country and the American people before his own,” Lindquist said.
Trump announced he will hand off control of his businesses to his sons, but does not plan to fully divest.
While it's called the Women's March, men will be taking part. Hundreds of such solidarity marches are planned across the globe this Saturday; in addition to Chicago, events are planned in Rockford and Springfield.
- Sean Crawford and Scott Desavouret contributed to this report.