Women's Marches In Montpelier And D.C. Attract Thousands

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Women's Marches In Montpelier And D.C. Attract Thousands

开云体育 | By VPR Staff

Published January 20, 2017 at 10:14 PM EST

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Late Friday night, 55 people boarded a bus from Berlin, Vt., headed to the nation's capital, where they will participate in Saturday's Women's March on Washington. A "sister march" taking place in Montpelier Saturday is expected to attract thousands.

Rebecca Sananes / VPR

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After a 13-hour bus ride, the D.C.-bound Vermonters arrive in Washington for the Women's March.

Rebecca Sananes / VPR

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A sea of people gathered for the Women's March on Washington Saturday morning, including Vermonters who had traveled through the night by bus to participate.

Rebecca Sananes / VPR

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Marchers fill the Statehouse lawn Saturday in Montpelier. The volume of people trying to get to the event caused Vermont State Police to close exit 8 off I-89 north and south Saturday.

Neal Goswami / Vermont Press Bureau

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Marchers fill the Statehouse lawn Saturday in Montpelier. The events in Montpelier caused severe delays on I-89 midday Saturday, resulting in multiple ramps of the highway being temporarily shut down.

Peter Hirschfeld / VPR

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Thousands gathered in Montpelier Saturday for the Women's March on Montpelier, a "sister march" to the main gathering in Washington, D.C.

Jeb Wallace-Brodeur / Times Argus

Hundreds of thousands participated in the Women's March on Washington or in satellite marches across the country Saturday. Throughout the day, VPR will be with Vermonters participating in Washington, D.C., at what is expected to be the largest of the marches, as well at a "sister" event in Montpelier.

VPR's Rebecca Sananes is traveling with a Vermont group headed to the march and will provide updates throughout the day.

While final estimates are still unavailable, Montpelier officials Saturday, for the with the Washington march. The event included remarks from Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Gov. Madeleine Kunin and 2016 gubernatorial candidate Sue Minter, as well as a performance by slam poetry group, .

Follow VPR on , and for highlights from throughout the day.

Saturday Jan. 21 10:40 p.m. (final update)

The estimate for the turnout at Montpelier's march now stands at 15,000. Read the full story from VPR's Annie Russell .

Saturday Jan. 21, 2017, 4:10 p.m.

Exit 8 is now open in both directions.

Saturday Jan. 21, 2017, 3:45 p.m.

According to the Vermont State Police, exit 7 is now open in both directions. Off ramps for exit 8 and 9 remain closed at this time.

Crowds at the Statehouse are beginning to disperse, though at their peak the lawn was jam packed with marchers:

At the peak of the march, the Statehouse lawn was packed with marchers, many carrying signs and wearing pink hats.

Sen. Bernie Sanders shared a message of solidarity with women during his remarks to the packed Statehouse lawn.

Sen. Bernie Sanders during his remarks at the Women's March on Montpelier Saturday.

Saturday Jan. 21, 2017, 3 p.m.

At this time, exit 7, 8 and 9 off ramps from I-89 are closed. On ramps at all three locations remain open.

Not going to hazard a crowd count, but turnout is considerable, to say the least, at in Montpelier
鈥� Peter Hirschfeld (@PeteHirschfeld)

Saturday Jan. 21, 2017, 2 p.m.

The Vermont State Police have announced they will be closing I-89 exit 9 (Middlesex) shortly, and exit 8 at Montpelier remains closed. "Traffic is backed up for miles both north and south bound in the travel and passing lanes in the area," police said. Montpelier City Police Chief Tony Facos says "travel within the city is highly restricted and city roads cannot support any more people or vehicles."

Marchers packed the Statehouse lawn Saturday for the Women's March on Montpelier. While no official estimate has been released, city officials said they'd heard as many as 7,000 could in town for the event.

Marchers raise fists in support of immigrants' rights at the Women's March on Montpelier Saturday.

The slam poetry group known as Muslim Girls Making Change in front of the mic at Saturday's Women's March on Montpelier.

Among those in the crowd at the Statehouse are former gubernatorial candidate Sue Minter and Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman:

and are marching in Montpelier
— Neal P. Goswami (@nealgoswami)

As well as Sen. Bernie Sanders:

is marching in Montpelier
— Vermont Press Bureau (@vtpressbureau)

Saturday Jan. 21, 2017, 1:30 p.m.

Just after 1 p.m. Saturday, the Vermont State Police closed Montpelier exit 8 on I-89 in both directions due to the congestion caused by motorists trying to make their way to Saturday's march in Montpelier. Commuters are advised at this time to seek alternative routes.

Those who have made it to the march route are making their way to the Vermont Statehouse:

Marchers participating in today's on Montpelier arrive at the Statehouse.
— 开云体育 Radio (@vprnet)

Still streaming in
— Neal P. Goswami (@nealgoswami)

Saturday Jan. 21, 2017, 12:30 p.m.

Vermont State Police say there are long backups north and south bound on I-89 near Montpelier due to today's events. They advise motorists to seek alternative routes or "use care and caution when approaching exit 8."

The Women's March on Montpelier is expected to begin around .

In the nation's capital, the Women's March on Washington is well underway.

VPR's Rebecca Sananes is with a group of Vermonters participating in the march and says spirits are high and "the energy is really positive" among those gathered.

VTers show up to D.C.
— Rebecca Sananes (@rebzsays)

— Rebecca Sananes (@rebzsays)

Saturday Jan. 21, 2017, 11 a.m.

After a 13-hour bus ride, the D.C.-bound group arrived in Washington and is on their way to the starting point for today's march:

VPR's Rebecca Sananes is in D.C. with Vermonters headed to the on Washington. Follow for the latest.
— 开云体育 Radio (@vprnet)

After a 13-hour bus ride, the D.C.-bound Vermonters arrive in Washington with pink hats (or "pussyhats," as marchers are calling them) and signs in hand, ready for the Women's March.

Saturday Jan. 21, 2017, 9:30 a.m.

Having traveled over 530 miles through the night, eager passengers on the Washington-bound bus begin to ready themselves for the march as they pass through Maryland.

Energy up hats on
— Rebecca Sananes (@rebzsays)

this morning so the last 15 miles of their journey will likely take them at least another half hour.

We're getting there
— Rebecca Sananes (@rebzsays)

Friday Jan. 20, 2017, 9:15 p.m.

The Washington-bound bus filled with Vermonters headed to the Women's March on Washington started its journey in Berlin, Vt., Friday night. Passengers brought signs and hats they've made for tomorrow's march:

Erin shows off one of her signs preparing for tomorrow's Follow her, and me as we road trip down!
— Rebecca Sananes (@rebzsays)

Here we go ! VTers in their "pussyhats" as they wait for the bus to
— Rebecca Sananes (@rebzsays)

This post will be updated throughout the day with highlights from both the Montpelier and Washington D.C. events.