Thousands attend women’s marches in northern New England

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Thousands of people have turned out for women’s marches that were set to highlight the high number of women elected to office in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

The marches on Saturday were held in Portland, Maine; Montpelier, Vermont, and Concord, New Hampshire.

Similar marches took place in cities around the world, including Washington, D.C.

Two years ago, an outpouring of women marched in the nation’s capital and around the country in opposition to Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The Saturday rallies came as a record-breaking 72 female lawmakers are serving in Maine’s Democratic-controlled 151-seat Legislature.

The Center for American Women and Politics ranks Vermont fifth in the country for its share of women lawmakers: 39 percent. New Hampshire ranks 14th, while Maine ranks sixth.