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More than 14k people attend Knoxville's Women's March 2.0; KPD calls event 'successful'

Knoxville held its second annual Women's March in Krutch Park Sunday afternoon.

More than 14,000 people in support of women and feminism showed up for the Women's March in downtown Knoxville Sunday.

The Women's March Coalition hosted the Women's March 2.0 with a start at 1 p.m. at Krutch Park.

The Knoxville Police Department enforced specific rules to keep all demonstrators safe and said there were no injuries and no arrests at this year's event.

The marches, which started on Saturday in most of the country, are meant to give everyone who participates a way to reach out to those in the community and come together for change. That's been the main theme from each event spanning from Memphis all the way to Chattanooga and now to Knoxville.

"I hope what you take away from this march is a determination to keep at it," Mayor Madeline Rogero said to the crowd. "To be the role models our daughters and granddaughters need."

The march especially resonated with the new Knoxville city councilwomen. Four were elected in 2017.

"I think that people taking action like through the Women's March, is just a great way to get involved," said Stephanie Welch, councilwoman for District 1. "We've seen that by people getting involved, it makes a difference."

KPD & THP are keeping crowd & traffic control on Gay Street in downtown Knoxville where thousands of people are waiting to enter the demonstration areas. If you’re driving downtown please use detour. pic.twitter.com/y1KgOe60uS

— Knoxville Police TN (@Knoxville_PD) January 21, 2018

KPD and THP kept protesters and counter protesters separated during the second annual Knoxville Women's March. KPD said there were about two dozen protesters from the Traditionalist Workers Party, which the Southern Poverty Law Center calls a white nationalist group. Protesting the TWP presence was a group of about 30 people, KPD said.

Protesters and counter protesters are being kept separated during the Women’s March event in downtown Krutch Park and Market Square today. pic.twitter.com/jBRyAjA51d

— Knoxville Police TN (@Knoxville_PD) January 21, 2018

The Women’s March is now over, all roads around Krutch Park and Market Square will remain closed until the crowds have cleared. pic.twitter.com/1Xxf0O3FwK

— Knoxville Police TN (@Knoxville_PD) January 21, 2018

The Knoxville Police Department said an estimated 14,000 people attended Sunday's march.

There were more officers at the Women's March this year because law enforcement was informed there would be protesters and counter protesters ahead of the Women's March.

"We're thankful at the end of it when everybody does what we ask them to do," Patrol Division Captain Don Jones with KPD said.

Jones said everyone followed the safety guides they put out for the march. Several organizations helped the Knoxville Police Department including THP, Knox County, TVA, and TEMA.

Protesters and counter protesters left around 2 p.m. roughly an hour after the march got underway.

Critics of the event have said the Women's Marches across the U.S. are only anti-Trump protests.

Those in support have said they want their voices to be heard as they want to help women and other marginalized, underprivileged groups. They also said this is a way to get more people out and in the voting booths.

RELATED | 'This is about equality': Activists take to the streets for Women's March

The plethora of marches across the U.S. have happened on the same day as the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Also in Knoxville on Sunday was the March for Life, for which participants promote their pro-life beliefs.

U.S. Rep. Diane Black (R-Gallatin) said she would love to talk to the women at the Women's March.

"Everybody has their right to have their voice heard, and we're going to acknowledge that," the republican gubernatorial candidate said. "We would invite them to come in and listen to us if they would do that."

Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd said equality is important to him.

"I'm all for women's rights and equality," Boyd said.

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