Protesters fearful of a Trump presidency have taken to the streets of Washington DC in defence of minority and immigrant rights.

Led by civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton, about 2,000 people braved the rain and freezing temperatures to demonstrate near the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial.

Demonstrators voiced anger over Mr Trump's comments on groups including Muslims and Mexicans, as well as plans to scrap Obamacare health reforms.

Image: The crowds also included relatives of several black people killed in police shootings

The protest also included relatives of several African-American people killed in police shootings, Hispanic group La Raza, Planned Parenthood and LGBT group the Human Rights Campaign.

People carried signs reading "Resist Trump's Hate" and "Tu, Yo, Todos Somos America," which translates from Spanish to "You, me, we all are America".


"We march in the driving rain because we want the nation to understand that what has been fought for and gained, that you're going to need more than one election to turn it around," said Rev Sharpton.

He told Democrats in Congress to "get some backbone" and fight against Mr Trump.

"We will march until hell freezes over, and when it does, we will march on the ice," said Cornell William Brooks, head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

The incoming president has maintained his pledge to build a wall on the Mexican border, deport undocumented immigrants with criminal records, and restrict Muslims entering the country.

Rehab Alkadi, a 31-year-old mother who came to the US from Syria, said she did not think she could be deported, but added: "Who knows? It's so scary, what Trump says ... He said a lot of things bad about the Muslim people."

Image: Mr Trump called civil rights campaigner John Lewis 'all talk'

Mr Trump also plans to dismantle the Obamacare legislation, which has extended healthcare cover to many poorer people.

The protests in the US capital came as Mr Trump criticised a prominent civil rights campaigner and politician on Twitter after he said he was boycotting the billionaire's inauguration.

The President-elect said John Lewis was "all talk" and should instead focus on fixing his "crime infested" district.

Image: John Lewis (L) is a civil rights leader who joined Dr Martin Luther King (R) on the famous march to Washington in August 1963. Mr Lewis has said he is boycotting the inauguration of Donald Trump on 20 January Image: Mr Trump has responded by saying the congressman is "all talk". Here, Mr Lewis (3rd L) is seen with Martin Luther King meeting President John F Kennedy at the White House in 1963 Image: Here, President Bill Clinton embraces John Lewis on the 35th anniversary of Dr King's famous 'I have a dream' speech Image: In 2010 President Barack Obama presented John Lewis with the Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honour Image: Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton look on as President Obama greets John Lewis on the 50th anniversary of Dr King's 'I have a dream' speech Image: Presidents Obama and Bush joined John Lewis in Selma, Alabama, on the 50th anniversary of a police assault on a peaceful civil rights protest Image: John Lewis held hands with the Obamas at they walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma Image: John Lewis watches Stevie Wonder perform at the opening of a museum of African American history as Presidents Obama and Bush look on in 2016 /

Congressman Lewis, who represents an area that includes most of Atlanta, is the most high-profile Democrat to snub next Friday's event.

He said he would be avoiding the swearing-in ceremony because the tycoon is not a "legitimate president".

Known for his decades of civil rights work - including alongside Martin Luther King - Mr Lewis said Russia's alleged hacking had helped Mr Trump defeat Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Image: Watch the Trump Inauguration on Sky News

In response, Mr Trump tweeted: "Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results.

"All talk, talk, talk - no action or results. Sad!"

Mr Trump's comments have sparked outrage among politicians on both sides in Congress.

The Democratic Party of Georgia called on Mr Trump to apologise to Mr Lewis - and the people of his district.

"It is disheartening that Trump would rather sing the praises of Vladimir Putin than Georgia's own living social justice legend and civil rights icon," state party spokesman Michael Smith said.

Congressman John Yarmuth, a member of the Democratic Party and a former member of the Republican Party, tweeted: "All talk no action, @realDonaldTrump? @repjohnlewis shed blood to secure & protect basic human rights for all. Your ignorance is astounding."

Watch live coverage of the inauguration on Sky News from 3pm and Sky Atlantic from 4pm on 20 January. Adam Boulton will be in the US to present a special Sky News programme - Trump: America's President - every day next week from midnight.

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