Hundreds rally in Miami for second Women's March

Power to the Polls protest encourages women to run for office

MIAMI ā€“ More than 1,000 people gatheredĀ Sunday in Miami for the annual second Women's March.

The eventĀ at theĀ Mana Wynwood Convention Center was one of several being held across the world this weekend. On Saturday, marches were held in Palm Beach, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, New York and other cities.

Sunday is the one year anniversary of the Women's March an event where thousands of women ralliedĀ in cities across the country. The protest was a response to election of President Donald Trump whose policies and public statements many view as anti-women.Ā 

Last year the Women's March in Miami shut down traffic on several downtown streets. This year's event was contained to theĀ Mana Wynwood Convention Center, which largely deteredĀ traffic problems.

This year'sĀ march wasĀ titled Power to the Polls in an effort to encourage women to run for public office and register to vote. Organizers also support expanding voting rights in FloridaĀ andĀ marginalized communities such as immigrants and transgender people.Ā 

Many at the rally carried signs in support of theĀ Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA. The Obama administration policy --Ā which allows people who came to the US illegally as children to work and go to school under certain conditions --Ā is now at the centerĀ of the debate over the government shutdown.Ā 

SimilarĀ events wereĀ held Sunday in Las Vegas, St. Petersburg, Fla., Paris, London, and Melbourne, Australia.Ā 

Speakers at the Miami event included Democratic gubernatorialĀ candidates Gwen Graham and Andrew Gillum, U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, a West Palm Beach Democrat, Miami-Dade CountyĀ Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava andĀ Miami Beach City Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez.