They were fighting for workers. They were fighting for Palestinians. They were fighting for Native Americans, the poor, the oppressed and the future. But most of all, they were fighting for women. Protest songs and burning sage filled the air at Waterfront Park on Saturday at the 9th Annual People’s March, where a couple thousand men, women, children and voters converged to rally for a bounty of causes at a time fraught with worry and tension. With equal measure of hope and dread, they lifted their voices and political signs before stepping onto Harbor Drive for a march into solidarity. “We need a woman in the White House,” said Maria E. Torres, a retired health care professional from La Jolla who wore a vintage Hillary Clinton for President T-shirt to the demonstration. “It’s the only way we are going to clean this place up.” Torres said she was most concerned about the looming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump — and the divisiveness and misinformation she sees ingrained in much of social media and right-leaning news. “We as Democrats have to educate ourselves so we have the ability to counter all of that,” she said. “Everybody is acquiescing to (Trump). That’s the sad part.” Organizers of the People’s March, first convened as the Women’s March at the dawn of the first Trump administration, urged attendees to stand tall in the face of the second Trump term that begins Monday. Trump, who was impeached twice in his first term and criminally indicted in four separate cases after leaving the White House, received 2.3 million votes more than Vice President Kamala Harris in the November election. Trump, who was to host a gala dinner with supporters in Virginia Saturday evening, was quiet on social media as to the marches. His son, Eric Trump, wrote in part on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday: “This time, America won. Against all odds, we did it — together, with the incredible people of this nation and the greatest political movement in history. … Our country is in great hands. The madness is over. America is in an age of renewal.” The large group marched along North Harbor Drive and then down Pacific Highway, ending at the County Administration Center. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune) The People’s March at Waterfront Park was one of dozens of protests against the incoming administration held across the country on Saturday. Speaker after speaker at the San Diego event implored the crowd to remain vigilant against what many see as a dangerous intrusion on civil rights and democratic protections. “We fight so we can make America the country it was destined to be,” said Genevieve Jones-Wright, executive director of the social-justice group Community Advocates for Moral and Just Governance. “We are going to fight for the America that’s written on paper, but has yet to give us that reality,” she told rallygoers. Rebranded as the People’s March, the rally was largely devoted to women’s rights, as state after state has restricted access to abortion in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2022 that overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling. But the audience also included hundreds of men and people of all races and persuasions. Joanna Rose Benavidez holds a flag at the People’s March Saturday. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune) The large group peacefully marched in along the Embarcadero. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)The large group marches in downtown San Diego. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune) Protesters carry signs during the People’s March. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune) Protesters carried signs calling for civil rights and protested a second Trump administration. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune) Show Caption1 of 5Joanna Rose Benavidez holds a flag at the People’s March Saturday. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune) Expand Earlier in the day, just north of the south lawn of Waterfront Park, anti-abortion advocates staged their own annual rally. San Diego Roman Catholic Diocese Cardinal Robert McElroy, who led the Walk for Life event, told attendees it was the will of God to “recognize the sacredness of the human person and particularly the sacredness of unborn children.” At the speaker’s corner ahead of the People’s March, banners were hung declaring “Native Nations Rise” and “Stop Starving Gaza.” Protesters waved hand-crafted signs with messages like “Women’s Rights are Human Rights” and “Human Change Not Climate Change.” Seventeen-year-old Jack Dillinger of Oceanside was hoisting a sign that said “The Enemy Doesn’t Arrive By Boat, But By Limousine.” He said he spent part of his weekend at Waterfront Park to hear multiple perspectives. “The limousines represent the government and the rich and wealthy people who are working to stop us from exercising free speech and women’s rights,” said the high school senior who said he grew up Republican. “I just want a little bit of change and maybe change some people’s minds,” he said. Merrie Latasa, a nurse and midwife also from Oceanside, said it was important to her to attend the march to build community with like-minded people who worry their rights are systematically being taken away. “I’m here to try to find others who are feeling like I do,” she said. “I need some hope for the future. I am worried that women are always going to be afraid.” Colin Nackerman, who works in renewable energy, said he took the train down from his home in Encinitas because he is concerned about the future of his industry ahead of the new leadership in Washington, D.C. “I’m supportive generally of all the issues here, but I’m obviously focused on climate change,” he said. “We all saw what happened last time (with climate change policy), but now they have learned what roadblocks they hit. This time around, they probably know they have to dig a little deeper.” Protester Danielle Wilkerson speaks to marchers before they march along University Avenue in Hillcrest Saturday. The march was organized by The SheVibe Collective. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) Protesters chant as they march in Hillcrest protesting the second Trump administration on Saturday. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) Protesters chant as they march along Sixth Ave in Hillcrest. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) Protester Danielle Wilkerson chants as she marches along Sixth Ave in Hillcrest. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) Protesters chant as they march along University Avenue in Hillcrest. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) Show Caption1 of 5Protester Danielle Wilkerson speaks to marchers before they march along University Avenue in Hillcrest Saturday. The march was organized by The SheVibe Collective. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) Expand Meanwhile in Hillcrest during a “One Fight, All Rights” march, a smaller group of demonstrators made their way down University Avenue carrying signs that read, among other things, “Trans Rights Are Human Rights” and “Injustice Anywhere Is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.” The collection of maybe three dozen marchers chanted, “The people, united, will never be divided.” Dina Somsamouth, who helped organize the Hillcrest demonstration, said the paint and signs were donated by the owner of a local women’s bar adjacent to where the march began. “It’s important to let everyone know that we have a voice,” Somsamouth said. “We’re not giving up and we’re not going backward.” Staff writers Caleb Lunetta and Tammy Murga contributed to this report.