The Women's March on ATX, a demonstration in support of women's rights, is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to the heart of Austin on Saturday.
Follow our live updates from the Women's March on ATX
Here's what to expect if you are around or plan on participating:
The Women’s March on ATX is one of the largest sister marches in the country
The Women’s March on Austin is considered a “sister march” to the central Women’s March on Washington taking place at the nation’s capital. The coinciding march is expected to be one of the largest in the country. As of Friday afternoon, more than 33,000 people have RSVP’d to the event via Facebook.
Schedule, route and road closures
Crowds will start to gather around 11 a.m., and the Women’s March on ATX is scheduled to begin at noon on the south lawn of the Texas State Capitol. The march will mobilize on downtown Congress Avenue and move toward West Sixth Street, then over to Lavaca Street and back up to the Capitol Building. The march route is roughly 1 1/2 miles. A rally at the Capitol is expected to kick off at 1:30 p.m.
Expect road closures on Congress Avenue, Sixth and Lavaca streets between 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
A full slate of local artists and speakers are set to make appearances
Saturday's entertainment lineup, which started with local artists Tameca Jones and Gina Chavez, has grown into a five-artist ticket that includes rapper and songwriter SaulPaul, indie recording artist Wendy Colonna and HBO Deaf Poet and World Poetry Slam Champion Joaquin Zihuatanejo.
As for speakers, former governor candidate and state Sen. Wendy Davis, State Rep. Senfronia Thompson and popular motivational speaker Lizzie Velasquez are all expected to make remarks after the march makes its way back to the State Capitol.
The Women’s March is not only for women
The Women’s March on ATX, and the other similar demonstrations throughout the country, is open for anyone to participate. According to the event’s website, “The march hopes to represent the voices of all individuals who believe women’s rights are human rights and that defending the most marginalized among us means defending all of us and welcomes any person regardless of gender or gender identity.”
