The march was widespread but the message was focused.

“Women’s rights are human rights,” called organizer Paula Kirman, answered by thousands of people crowding the grounds of the Alberta Legislature Saturday afternoon to take a stand for women’s rights and Canadian values of equality for all.

Between 2,000 and 4,000 people joined in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington and hundreds of sister rallies happening around the globe.

“We are gathering to say loud and clear that we will not tolerate discrimination, we will stand in support of all of those who have been and continue to be the target of hatred and closed minds,” said Alison Poste, who organized Edmonton’s rally with Kirman and Michelle Brewer.

Carrying signs and chanting, the crowd stretched from the steps of the Alberta Legislature past the Annex Building easily overwhelming a handful of Donald Trump supporters.

Demonstrators marched around the reflecting pool outside of the Alberta Legislature while elder Taz Bouchier drummed and sang a Women’s Warrior Song.

Kirman and Poste said divisive language popularized in the last American election has already had ramifications locally, pointing to a surge in Islamophobia and gender-based harassment experienced by female politicians.

Nakita Valerio, vice president of external affairs for the Alberta Muslim Public Affairs Council, took direct aim at Trump’s election for fanning the flames of hatred, saying he was “legitimized in his hatred and misogyny and propelled to the highest institution of the most powerful nation in the world, and we will oppose him and all echoes of him at home.”

“Hatred will not live here, oppression will not be tolerated, injustice will not be served today,” Valerio added, before the crowd responded with thunderous applause.

Marni Panas, local LGBTQ activist, echoed Valerio’s sentiment.

“Your sexist, misogynistic, homophobic language gives others in society a moral license to do the same,” said Panas, calling on demonstrators to be vigilant in decrying divisive hate speech.

“When you don’t take a stand against sexism or misogyny you stand for it. When you don’t speak up to hate and intolerance, you give people permission to turn their hateful thoughts into words, and hateful words turn to actions,” she said.

Linda Duncan, MP for Edmonton-Strathcona, said that while Trump may be America’s president, Canada has it’s own issues of enduring inequality. She called for better access to affordable childcare and pointed to disproportionate poverty and violence experienced by aboriginal women.

“We need to be angry too about what is happening here,” said Duncan.

While organizers agreed social justice is not achieved in one day, they hoped the momentum generated at Saturday’s march would inspire further action against injustice.