The crowd arrives at the stage in front of City Hall for the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

The crowd takes to the street for the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

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A woman chants while holding her sign during the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

Signs can be the spark that starts a conversation as it did for Diane Balisy, left and Joy Rogers right during the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

Women leading the way up Hill Street during the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)



The crowd gathers around the stage in front of City Hall during the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

L-R Lisa Solomon and Jill Thomas hold up signs encouraging people to vote and make change during the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

The crowd gathers around the stage in front of City Hall during the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

A woman makes her way to the stage in front of City Hall during the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

Women leading the way up Hill Street during the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)



Men and women both attended the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

The crowd takes to the street for the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

Jennifer Siebel Newsom speaks to the crowd at the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

The crowd gathers around the stage in front of City Hall during the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

A bag hangs off a shoulder in the crowd of marchers during the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)



Rosanna Arquette speaks to the crowd during the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

The crowd cheers the speakers on at the stage in front of City Hall during the 4th Annual Women’s March LA in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

U.S. Representative Katie Porter speaks to the crowd during a rally before the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A demonstrator carries a sign during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A demonstrator carries a sign during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)



A demonstrator carries a sign during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A demonstrator carries a sign during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

U.S. Representative Katie Porter waves to the crowd during a rally before the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Demonstrators wander the streets before the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Donald Trump balloons are carried down Flower St. during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Jocelyn Alvarez, 8, of Santa Ana, carries a sign next to her mom Joanna as they walk down Flower St. during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A demonstrator carries a sign during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Demonstrators walk down Flower St. during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG),,

Friends Tish Colburn, Nancy Skinner, Ginny Parker and Suzanne Dyer, from left, pose for a photo as they rest on a bench on Flower St. during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A demonstrator flashes a sign near the start of the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Carrie Thomas, of Huntington Beach, shows her love for Justice Ginsburg before the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Olympia Zahedi, 2, is pushed down Flower St. during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A demonstrator flashes a sign near the start of the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A demonstrator flashes a Baby Yoda sign near the start of the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Demonstrators walk down Flower St. during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Demonstrators tape up an impeachment sign near the start of the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley, left, takes a photo with Brea-Olinda Unified School District board member Kerri Kropke as they are recognized on stage before the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

U.S. Representative Katie Porter waves to the crowd during a rally before the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Thousands of marchers walk down Flower St. during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kaylyn Thompson, 5, of Orange, carries a sign next to her dad Andrew as the walk down Flower St. during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Supporters cheer on demonstrators as they head down Flower St. during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Demonstrators snap a Boomerang near the start of the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kathy Surber, of Bellflower, left, hugs Maggie Valenzuela, of Los Angeles, after performing a sage blessing on her before the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Maeve Choi, 2, of Fullerton, is joined by her grandma Terry Stapleton, of Fullerton, and Sam Bahena, of Orange, at left, as they prepare for the start of the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. “An early start on women’s rights,” quipped Stapleton. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Thousands of marchers listen to U.S. Representative Katie Porter as she speaks before the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Isabella Lopez, 10, of Santa Ana, joined thousands of people as they walk down Flower St. during the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Thousands of people walk down Flower St. as they start the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Women, men and kids gather in downtown Santa Ana as part of the fourth annual national Women’s March. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Claira Higgins, 9, of Tustin, left, passes the time with her cousin Raeann Vanderplate, 23, of Ontario before the start of the OC Women’s March in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday January 18, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Jenn Carson addresses the attendants in front of the Riverside Historic Courthouse during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)



Maria Serrano and Meesha Sharma, members of Greenpeace of San Diego, support the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

One of the banners that a participant show during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Youngsters sit in front of the Riverside Historic Courthouse during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Youngsters sit in front of the Riverside Historic Courthouse during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Participants walk on 12th Street during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)



A girl sits in front of the Riverside Historic Courthouse during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Abigail Medina (a Democrat running for the 23rd Senate District) addresses the attendants in front of the Riverside Historic Courthouse during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Heidi Avilez, 4, Samantha Avilez-Lloyd, 12, and Lexil Avilez, 10, sit in front of the Riverside Historic Courthouse during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Youngsters sit in front of the Riverside Historic Courthouse during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Nolan Rodriguez, 2, sits in front of the Riverside Historic Courthouse during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)



A participant shows support during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Silvia Carrillo participates at the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Youngsters sit in front of the Riverside Historic Courthouse during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Participants walk along University Avenue in downtown Riverside during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Phil Heiple of Riverside attends the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)



Congresswoman Norma Torres addresses the audience at the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Participants walk along 12th Street in downtown Riverside during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Maria Serrano of San Diego participate at the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Erron Lopez, 7, Hailey Sanchez, 8, and Emma Sanchez, 2, sit in front of the Riverside Historic Courthouse during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Youngsters sit in front of the Riverside Historic Courthouse during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)



Participants walk on Main Street during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Participants Katie Greene, Joan Donahue, and Judith Auth walk on Main street during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Youngsters sit in front of the Riverside Historic Courthouse during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Emma Gutierrez, 4, and Dalilah Casas, 5, sit in front of the Riverside Historic Courthouse during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

Participants walk along University Avenue in downtown Riverside during the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)



Youngsters lead the start of the 4th annual Inland Empire Women’s March in downtown Riverside on Saturday Jan. 18, 2020. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)

The chants, signs and energy were on par with the past three years, even if the crowds for Women’s March 2020, held Saturday, Jan. 18, didn’t match the turnout of previous Southern California events.

Still, for many organizers and participants, size wasn’t the point.

In their view, the fourth annual Women’s March — in which the rallies in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties were just part of an international event that included more than 250 gathering points in communities as diverse as Boise, Idaho and Oslo, Norway — was simply the kickoff of to a contentious 2020 election season.

“It’s a reminder for people who feel the same way and want to see change happen in Washington,” said Sherman Oaks resident Dwayne Jones, 46, who took part in the march in downtown Los Angeles, which drew tens of thousands of participants.

“We’re going to continue to speak out and make sure people are voting.”

Indeed, the rallies Saturday — though technically non-partisan and aimed at highlighting issues related to climate, immigration and reproductive rights — served as vibrant get-out-the-vote efforts.

In Santa Ana, where Women’s March Orange County was held, the theme was “march today, vote tomorrow,” according to keynote speaker Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine.

It’s a strategy that’s already worked once, Porter added.

“We took the power of the Women’s March to the polls,” Porter told a friendly crowd of about 12,000 in Santa Ana, referring to how the events of 2017 and ’18 boosted turnout that drove huge Democratic gains in the 2018 midterms.

“When we have the courage to organize, to speak up, and to fight back, we have the power to make real change to move our country forward,” she added.

In Riverside, on the steps outside the Riverside Historic Courthouse, the county’s Democratic Party Chair, Tisa Rodriguez, offered a similar speech to several hundred marchers.

“Here’s the thing everyone, it is critically important that we all walk, that we all work and that we all vote,” Rodriguez said.

National organizers noted that while many of the participants have shown up at each annual rally that’s taken place since the 4.5 million person march held two days after President Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration, the field always includes more newcomers.

Those new marchers, organizers say, could be key in November.

“I will be voting this year,” said 18-year-old Aryianna Faircloth, of Irvine, who came to the Orange County event with her family.

Melissa Keener, 29, of Los Angeles, said she plans to do the same. After walking through downtown Los Angeles in a relaxed but crowded event, Keener said being part of the Women’s March is encouraging her to “become more politically active,” and to get involved in other protests.

It was a sentiment echoed by Libby Short, 25, of Marina del Rey, who said she’ll “continue to be active in (the) community” after attending the rally Saturday in Los Angeles.

While the crowds were peaceful and non-confrontational (in Santa Ana, some marchers thanked police, who were keeping the roads clear), the messaging and chants of many expressed growing frustration with Trump administration and GOP supporters.

While Trump’s upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate wasn’t a focus on Saturday, participants — which included women, men, kids and even a few dogs — expressed views about a variety of causes: climate change, opposition to foreign wars and equal pay. One poster — “Too many grievances for one sign” — seemed to speak for many.

“We’re here because we don’t want our two homelands being at war with each other,” said Sudi Farokhnia, of Mission Viejo, who was one about 15 Iranian Americans who set up along the march route in Santa Ana to express opposition to military conflict with Iran.

Farokhnia suggested that U.S military action in Iran could hinder civic engagement and pro-democracy activism that country.

For Nancy Skinner, of Newport Beach, the reason to march Saturday was her desire to safeguard women’s reproductive rights. Her hand-made sign read “My body, my choice” and drew the eye with sparkly gold star stickers.

Now 85, Skinner recalled a story told by her physician husband, who said he once held the hand of a woman who was dying after trying to give herself an abortion.

In Skinner’s view, women’s rights are in danger, and she doesn’t believe she’ll live long enough to see a shift in that trend. Still, Skinner said, she’s heartened by the growing numbers of women running for office — a specific goal of the Women’s March movement.

“I’ll probably be out walking” to knock on doors for the eventual Democratic presidential nominee during this year’s election cycle, she said.

On the other end of the age spectrum, 15-year-old Eva Jabbari, of Aliso Viejo, hasn’t known a world where women couldn’t vote or hold nearly any job they wanted. But pay inequality? That’s something she’s seen, and changing it is one reason she came out to march.

“Double standards are gross,” Jabbari said. “We’re all equal.”

Some who turned out Saturday, like Erin Maddux, 30, of Irvine, said they’ve have been to every Women’s March since ’17.

“It’s kind of (crummy) that we still need it, because we’ve had a lot of these movements,” she said.

City News Service contributed to this report.