A crowd of pink and picket signs stuffed the streets of Uptown on Saturday for the second annual Dallas Women's March.

Like many of the youngest marchers, Stella Sanford, 8, came with her mother.

When asked why, she shrugged and threw her hands in the air.

"Because we're awesome!"

Her mother, Vanessa Sanford, said they came from Frisco to attend the event.

"I could cry," Sanford said while choking back tears. "To be 8 years old and to learn this message is so important. We believe everyone should have respect and love."

The large crowd in Dallas — about 7,000 people based on estimates from law enforcement —gathered at St. Paul United Methodist Church downtown and marched through Uptown to Pike Park, where a rally was held.

1 / 12Marchers move Uptown during the Dallas Women's March in Dallas Saturday January 20, 2018. The march started at St. Paul United Methodist Church and ended at Pike Park in Uptown. Three marches took place in Dallas on Saturday, including the North Texas March for Life, Dallas Women's March and the Impeach Trump Solidarity Rally & March. (Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 2 / 12Marchers move Uptown during the Dallas Women's March in Dallas Saturday January 20, 2018. The march started at St. Paul United Methodist Church and ended at Pike Park in Uptown. (Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 3 / 12Marchers move Uptown during the Dallas Women's March in Dallas Saturday January 20, 2018. The march started at St. Paul United Methodist Church and ended at Pike Park in Uptown. (Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 4 / 12A marchers listens as Rabbi Nancy Kasten speaks at Pike Park during the rally portion of the Dallas Women's March in Dallas Saturday January 20, 2018. (Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 5 / 12Marchers move Uptown during the Dallas Women's March in Dallas Saturday.(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 6 / 12Marchers arrive at at Pike Park before the rally portion of the Dallas Women's March in Dallas Saturday. (Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 7 / 12Marchers listens as speakers make comments at Pike Park during the rally portion of the Dallas Women's March in Dallas Saturday. (Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 8 / 12Julianna Taylor, of Dallas, holds up a sign at Pike Park before the rally portion of the Dallas Women's March in Dallas Saturday. (Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 9 / 12Victoria Neave, who represents Texas House District 107, speaks at Pike Park during the rally portion of the Dallas Women's March in Dallas Saturday. (Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 10 / 12Julia Chambers, 8, of pulled by her father Denny Chambers, of Garland, Texas, during the Dallas Women's March in Dallas Saturday. (Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 11 / 12Marchers listens as speakers make comments at Pike Park during the rally portion of the Dallas Women's March in Dallas Saturday. (Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 12 / 12Deanna Stuemke, of Southlake, Texas, and her daughter Maddie Stuemke, 8, kiss as Andra Day's song "Rise Up" is performed at Pike Park during the rally portion of the Dallas Women's March. (Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer)

Similar women's rights marches, offshoots of last year's inaugural Women's March on Washington, were held around the country, including one in Austin, where an anti-Trump protester was arrested after a disturbance.

Here are a few signs from today’s march pic.twitter.com/7zFrrxrzU2 — Claire Ballor (@claireballor) January 20, 2018

The atmosphere of Saturday’s march in Dallas was notably different from

last year's

, which was held the day after President Donald Trump took office. Post-election tensions have eased, but resolve has been bolstered. Signs and speeches centered around unity, pay equality, abortion rights

diversity.

“Last year we said it was a moment,” march organizer Rhetta Bowers shouted to the energized crowd, “but it’s turned into a movement.”

Rally speakers included state Rep. Helen Giddings, D-Dallas, state Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas, and County Commissioner Elba Garcia, along with representatives from Planned Parenthood, Mothers Against Police Brutality and several local faith leaders.

This year’s march was marked by the #MeToo movement born out of the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault allegations that emerged in October.

“That movement is bringing this all to light,” said Cindy Barrett, who came from Kaufman County to join in the march. “I am a victim, and seeing all these women come forward makes me feel like I’m not alone. That’s why I march.”

Chaka Khan and lots of pink at Pike Park where everyone is gathering. #WomensMarchDallas pic.twitter.com/KFhQSvNad0 — Claire Ballor (@claireballor) January 20, 2018

Allison Liles brought her 6-year-old daughter to march and wave handmade cardboard signs with her.

“I’m an Episcopal priest and I deeply believe that all people, no matter who they are or where they are in society, are all created in the image of God,” said Liles. “My daughter, she is a very strong, independent child, and I know when I was growing up, those qualities were not recognized as positive. I want to show her these are things we should be proud of and embrace.”

As the Dallas Women’s March came to an end, thousands gathered at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe a few miles away to join the March for Life, which marked the 45th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade abortion decision.