Men walked alongside women in the streets of Chicago in participating in the National Women’s March Day on Jan. 21. (Photo by Maureen Price / for Chronicle Media)

Beginning in the early morning hours Jan. 21 thousands of women, men and children, many wearing pink in solidarity, began filling the streets of Chicago to participate in the National Women’s March, one of many being held in cities across the country including Washington D.C.

The crowd in Chicago was reported to be at 250,000.

The rally began at 10 a.m. on Columbus Drive near Jackson Drive.

The stage was located on Columbus facing south at the intersection of Columbus and Jackson.

Holding signs and donning pink, thousands came out to Chicago to participate in the National Women’s March Day on Jan. 21. (Photo by Maureen Price / for Chronicle Media)

The march proceeded west from Columbus onto Jackson Boulevard at 11:30AM and conclude as marchers arrive at Federal Plaza.

In addition to Chicago, other Illinois cities held marches including Peoria and Champaign.

Residents from all over the Central Illinois region came to Peoria to participate in activities there and gathered at the Gateway Building, 200 NE Water St.

Crowds peacefully gathered on Columbus and Jackson drives in Chicago as part of the National Women’s March Day on Saturday, Jan. 21. (Photo by Maureen Price / for Chronicle Media)

Other groups from Normal and Bloomington traveled on buses to Washington D.C. to take part in the march there. The buses left from Illinois State University on Jan. 20.

This sign expresses the feelings many parents stated as their reason for coming out to the National Women’s March Day in Peoria on Jan. 21. Other Illinois cities held marches as well. (Photo by Holly Eitenmiller / for Chronicle Media)

Multiple generations in families walked together in the National Women’s March Day events held in Peoria on Jan. 21. The Peoria rally was one of several held in Illinois in addition to those nationally and internationally. (Photo by Holly Eitenmiller / for Chronicle Media)

The protests were in support of a woman’s healthcare, the gender wage gap, and overall civil rights.

The marches were organized in wake of Donald Trump being elected president in November and took place the day after Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

An estimated 250,00 people gathered in Chicago Jan. 21 for the National Women’s March Day. Chicago was one of many cities across the country were marches were held. (Photo by Maureen Price / for Chronicle Media)

Men and women from all over Central Illinois came out to for the Peoria rally as part of the National Women’s March Day on Jan. 21 (Photo by Holly Eitenmiller / for Chronicle Media)

Pink was the color of the day at National Women’s March Day event in Peoria on Jan. 21. The rally was held in conjunction with similar marches around the country and the world. (Photo by Holly Eitenmiller / for Chronicle Media)

Participants in the Peoria Women’s March Day on Jan. 21. how their feelings about President Donald Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin. (Photo by Holly Eitenmiller / for Chronicle Media)

— — Hundreds of thousands rally for equality in Illinois Women’s Marches —