In sync with anti-Trump marches in the nation’s capital and across the country, at least 10,000 people marched down Congress Street from the Eastern Promenade for the Women’s Walk in Portland, carrying signs and chanting.

Portland police said the size of the orderly protest crowd was “of historic proportions” but could not immediately say when the previous record was set.

Portland Police Lt. Bob Doherty said the crowd easily equaled the 10,000 people who show up for the Fourth of July celebrations in Portland.

It is one of several rallies across the state held to coincide with the Washington march to support issues and causes threatened by the administration of President Trump.

The Portland crowd started marching from the Eastern Prom at about 11 a.m. It took the crowd, traveling five to six people deep in the westbound lane of Congress Street, more than an hour to pass through Monument Square on its way to Congress Square. The line stretched from Congress Square a mile back to the Eastern Prom, said Portland Police.

“It’s peaceful and orderly, ” said Doherty.

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Dougherty said the crowd wouldn’t disperse until after speeches at Congress Square, sometime after 1 p.m. Another major women’s march is underway in Augusta, with others planned for Brunswick, Sanford and Kennebunk. Hundreds of other marches are expected to take place across the nation.

Organizers of the Women’s March on Washington expect around 500,000 people to turn out.

As the march began at the Eastern Prom, the mood was relaxed and peaceful. People were holding signs and many were wearing pink hats.

Some chanted “Fired up; let’s go!” as the march got started.

“In 83 years, I have seen a lot of changes for the good and now it is all going backwards. I don’t like it,” said Jean LeConte of Westbrook, who came to the march with three close friends.

Marcia Mullen, 66, of Poland Spring was passing out handmade pussycat hats and buttons that read “March On.”

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“It’s not over with this march,” Mullen explained. “It’s just the beginning.”

For Mullen the march triggered a moment of deja vu.

“We started this march years ago. We marched for women’s rights and Roe v. Wade and now it is all at risk,” said Mullen.

Most people had homemade signs with them, some of them fashioned at dozens of sign-making parties in the days leading up to the march.

One man held a sign that said: “Duderus for uterus.”

Other signs spotted in the crowd: “Put out the trumpster fire,” “I am woman, hear my roar” and “Hands off Planned Parenthood.”

Some signs were directed at Maine politicians, such as “Call your girlfriends. It’s time to have the talk,” with a photo of Sen. Susan Collins and her phone number.

This story will be updated.

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