TRENTON — Thousands of people from New Jersey participated in the Women's March on Washington, both in the Garden State, and in the nation's capital.

500,000 people made the trip to Washington D.C. on Saturday, making it one of the largest demonstrations in a single day without one single arrest. Wearing pointy-eared "pussy hats," protesters marched into the night towards the White House in the name of women's rights a day after Donald Trump was inaugurated as president.

The challenge, many who went say, is keeping their message alive past the event.

"I was in awe of the massive amount of women and men who came. The crowds stretched and stretched and overflowed the streets," Raquel Guarino of Marlboro said about the Washington event. "It was inspiring to see. And I am so proud our movement, which included about 5 million people worldwide, was done peacefully--a tremendous feat given the fact that one person's mistakes can taint a movement of millions."

The 25-year-old, who said her mother and father both made the trip as well, said "the fact that people of different races, ages, genders, sexualities, those with disabilities and the like came, that is something I am incredibly proud of."  Guarino said she was inspired to become involved in the Action Central NJ movement."

Elizabeth Meyer, organizer of the march in Trenton, said 7,500 came to the event at the Patriot Theater and War Memorial. "Our march in New Jersey was not a moment in time but the beginning of a movement. Over the next four years we will be vigilant and rise in solidarity as many times as we need in order to protect all of our rights, safety, health and families. Hate and bigotry will not be tolerated in our country especially if it trickles down from our nation's highest office."

Asbury Park Police said 6,000 people turned out for the march, according to the Asbury Park Press, including Patti Scialfa. The member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame did not address the crowd but did post pictures on her Instagram account.

in Asbury Park, Shari Lynch said she was "so proud to have been a part of this. I can only hope that the new administaration understands how concerned we are and how we won't go backwards. We will not be marginalized or lose our rights."

Lynch is Director of National Sales/Northeast for Townsquare Media.

Large turnouts were also reported at events in Westfield and Mt. Laurel.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com

The Associated Press contributed to this report

@womensmarch @asburyparkboardwalk beautiful day with my mom and cousins and friends...

A photo posted by Patti Scialfa (@officialrumbledoll) on

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