Women's March on Philadelphia: As it happened

Live updates from the Women's March on Philadelphia, an event organizers expect will draw tens of thousands to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Saturday.

Kristyn Stickley, 22, of West Chester, PA, at right, holds a sign during the Women's March on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, PA on Jan. 20, 2018.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer

by Patricia Madej

Published Jan. 20, 2018, 9:28 a.m. ET

The Women's March on Philadelphia Saturday has drawn thousands to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for a show of force and call-to-action that coincides with the one-year anniversary of President Trump's inauguration.

Participants – including some men – began to gather around 8 a.m. near Logan Square. At the 11 a.m. official kickoff, marchers began making their way down the Parkway to hear speeches featuring Philadelphia's newly elected Controller Rebecca Rhynhart and Amber Hikes, director of Philadelphia's Office of LGBT Affairs, among others, scheduled to begin at noon.

While last year's event – fueled, in part, by dismay over Trump's election – drew more than 50,000, organizers believe that 2017's powerful #MeToo and "Time's Up" movements over sexual harassment have helped boost Saturday's attendance.

The event ended at 3 p.m. Follow along for live updates.

Follow staff writer Anna Orso as well as columnists Helen Ubiñas and Will Bunch covering Saturday's march. Their Twitter handles are: @Anna_Orso, @NotesfromHel and @Will_Bunch.

3 p.m.: The march concludes.

12:20 p.m.: Speakers take to the stage.

Noon: Saturday's participants show off their homemade signs revealing what most inspired them to attend.

10:50 a.m.: The crowd begins to peacefully march around 11 a.m. despite calls for protest due to a social media message that spread word of possible "stopping and frisking" that left some saying that they would skip this year's march. Philadelphia police said random searches would not be conducted.

9:45 a.m.: Crowds begin to fill in around Logan Circle, donning last year's pink hats and carrying signs with phrases like, "It's Mueller time." Many are leaving their hats at home Saturday, with some suggesting the headwear isn't "inclusive."

8:45 a.m.: People head into Center City for Saturday's Women's March on Philadelphia. One participant on SEPTA's Regional Rail Chestnut Hill West train said, "It's a great day to resist!" SEPTA said Friday night that it would be providing extra train cars "wherever possible" to accommodate the large crowds.