In what was said to be the largest of the Women’s Marches held across the US, hundreds of thousands of Los Angeles residents poured onto their city’s downtown streets, joined by a number of Hollywood stars as they once again looked to "resist" President Donald Trump.

“Ugh - Where Do I Even Begin?” read a sign that spoke volumes about the large swath of issues addressed by a demonstrative crowd in their chants and placards. Anger about the government shutdown was palpable, as was frustration with myriad Trump Administration policies, but the marchers also picked up on topics that have gained traction since the first marches on the president's inauguration day one year ago - such as the fight against sexual harassment and assault that has swept through the entertainment business and beyond.

Victoria, 60, who declined to give her last name, reference the #MeToo movement, which sprang up in the wake of a number of sexual misconduct allegations against figures in Hollywood. “I went last year, I was so glad I went," she said. "This year, especially for me, it’s the hashtag #MeToo.” When asked if she’d ever experienced a sexual assault, she said that she was raped at age 20. “So this #MeToo, I’m so passionate about it. So happy it’s happening!”

The march’s main theme, #PowerToThePolls, encouraged participants to think ahead to the country’s mid-term elections in November. Voter registration booths and canvassers dotted the march route, while street vendors hawked pink pussy hats - a symbol of last year's marches - and “Oprah 2020!” buttons, while handmade signs read things like “Veto The Cheeto!” a reference to a fast-food cheese snack which is said to resemble Donald Trump’s hair colour.

Thousands of demonstrators listen to speakers at the Women's March in Los Angeles, California, on 20 January 2018. (EPA)

A number of Hollywood's A-list joined speakers at a rally at City Hall. Amongst them, actress Natalie Portman spoke boldly about the horror, as a 12-year-old performer on the set of her first film, of having to learn quickly about the politics of sexuality - or "sexual terrorism" as she called it - after being sent rape-fantasy letters by a fan, and how it came to oppress her over the years.

A passionate Viola Davis stirred the crowd by saying, “I was also a #MeToo!” then reading from the poem The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus, which is inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free!” Whoops and hollers were heard all down the parade route. Davis encouraged them to “Keep that rolling once you go home!”

Scarlett Johansson also spoke about the fact that she was “empowered... by the brightness of this movement, the strength and the unity that this movement has provided. It gives me hope that we are moving toward a place where our sense of equality can truly come from within ourselves.”

Latinos and other immigrant groups also came out in full force to march, having found themselves at the heart of the disagreements that led to the government shutdown. Part of the reason for the closure was Mr Trump and Republicans wanting a tougher line on illegal immigration, while Democrats were pushing for provisions for so called "Dreamers" who have been left in limbo after the Trump administration ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme. That programme, started by former President Barack Obama offered protection form deportation, and the right to education plus work permits to hundreds of thousands of people brought to the US illegally by their parents when they were children.

Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London Women's rights demonstrators hold placards and shout slogans during the Time's Up rally at Richmond Terrace, opposite Downing Street in London. Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London The Time's Up initiative was launched at the start of January 2018 as a response to the #MeToo movement and the Harvey Weinstein scandal. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Berlin Women's March in Berlin. EPA Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London The Time's Up Women's March marks the one year anniversary of the first Women's March in London and in 2018 it is inspired by the Time's Up movement against sexual abuse. Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Paris Women hold a banner reading "still feminist" with the Eiffel tower in background on the Trocadero esplanade in Paris. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London Protesters hold up placards at the Women's March in central London. Rex Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Paris A demonstator hold signs on the Trocadero esplanade in Paris during a women's march organised as part of global protests. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London Chanting Times Up in the cold rain - On the anniversary of the Women's March on London. Rex Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Thousands of people gather holding protest signs on Central Park West. EPA Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Demonstrators take part in the Women's March in Manhattan Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Chicago A woman holds a sign during the Second Annual Womens March in Chicago AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather near Central Park before the beginning of the Women's March in New York Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington Supporters gather during the Women's March in Washington AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York The crowd lines up near Central Park Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Chicago Demostrators attend the Second Annual Womens March in Chicago AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Thousands hold signs and rally while attending the Women’s March in New York Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather near Central Park before the beginning of the Women's March in New York Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People hold signs up during the women's march Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Philadelphia Oscar Janicki, 6, participates in the Second Annual Women's March in Philadelphia Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Philadelphia Crowds gather to participate in the Second Annual Women's March in Philadelphia Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Women pose as they attend the second annual National Womens March in New York City AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather prior to the second annual National Womens March in New York City AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People take part in the Women's March in Manhattan Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather the second annual National Womens March AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the Second Annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome A woman holds a banner reading "Womwn united will never be defeated" during Rome Resists demonstration part of the Women's March in downtown. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome Italian actress Asia Argento (3rdL) attends the Rome Resists demonstration part of the Women's March in downtown Rome. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome The Women's March Rome, designed to show solidarity for the protection of civil and social rights, women's rights and the environment included Italian actress Asia Argento, one of the first women to accuse US film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Zurich A US citizen holds a poster on the anniversary of the inauguration of President Trump apologising to the world on behalf of her country, in Zurich, Switzerland. A year after millions of people took to the streets across the US and countries around the world, women's marches are being held in lots of cities this weekend. EPA Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People take part in the Women's March in Manhattan Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome A woman holds a banner reading "The rising of the women means rising of us all" during Rome Resists demonstration. AFP/Getty Images Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome A woman lifts her fist while holding a banner reading "Hear our voice" during Rome Resists demonstration. AFP/Getty

Barbara Perez-Schmidt and Janet Perez-Molina, waving signs that read, “Mujeres por el Dream Act,” [Women for the Dream Act] told the story of a Latino family friend, a male in his 20s who had been getting his Masters degree in Nursing until he was recently and suddenly deported to Mexico, thereby breaking up his family. “There’s one family member there. And he’s not working yet cause he’s trying to adapt,” one said, adding that the friend had no money to his name down in Mexico.

Both women chimed in that they believed that the shutdown was the right thing for the Democrats to have forced. “Even though DACA wasn’t (yet) due, this is a necessary action that needed to happen, so that (the Republicans) can understand that it’s a priority, that our families are suffering. This deportation and separation—we’re all human beings! And they need to be human and kind,” said Perez-Schmidt firmly.

Jess, a Latina social worker in her 20s, spoke on the march route about her work in an outpatient mental health clinic that caters to older Latinos. She said that right now, “There’s a lot of fear. I don’t see a lot of progress in the last year. Someone I was working with came into a care session and cried for almost the entire session in frustration.”

"So many of my older adults are having to take medication for sleep more and more in the last six months,” she added, suggesting that the anxiety many of her clientele were reporting was apparently triggered by watching the news.