AUSTIN — Facing south from the Capitol on Saturday, it was hard to tell if folks were actually marching at the Women’s March on Austin, or simply milling around in a tight-packed sea of people.

A multi-generational crowd of men, women and children – estimated at more than 30,000 by Sara Hirsh Bordo, who produced and directed the event – overflowed the Capitol steps and covered the lawn leading to Congress Avenue.

“I want to welcome you to the largest gathering of women in Texas history,” said Bordo, addressing the crowd. “My God, are women rising today.”

The march was one of hundreds around the country aimed at protesting Donald Trump’s policies, which participants say threaten women, immigrants, Muslims and others. The marches were held one day after the real estate developer was inaugurated as the country’s new chief executive.

Mother-daughter duo Shana Roy, 40, and Meredith Jones, 20, carried a homemade sign that read, “Stop tiny-fingered fascism,” an apparent reference to focus on the size of Trump’s hands during the Republican primary.

“I am a rape survivor,” Roy said. “I cannot stand a sexual offender in the White House. I hope that all the women marching around the world piss him off.”

It was Jones’ first march since she was a child, when her mom took her to protest the Gulf War.

“I’ve never felt so out of hope that I matter and that my government cares about me,” she said. “I’m mainly hoping that Congress pays attention.”

Felix Radke’s hometown of Denton was having its own march, but the art professor retired from Texas Woman’s University joined his adult daughters, both Austin residents, at the Capitol.

Radke, 70, waved a sign reading “Make Russia great again,” over a drawing of Trump.

“If you want to make a splash, you go to Austin,” he said explaining his choice of protests. “I’ve never been to a march in my whole life. I wanted to witness this spectacle. It’s amazing.”

Patsy Woods Martin, executive director of Annie’s List, an group that works to elect progressive women who support abortion rights to office in Texas, said she had tangible hopes for the day, above simply participating in a protest.

“I would hope that 10 percent of the women here would stand up and run for office,” said Martin, adding that 29 of 33 of the group’s state and local candidates won last fall.

“What we are hearing as we travel around the state is that people are ready to do something. We want everybody to join us,” she said.

Dallas resident Paula Cooper, 76, was among a three-generation group of women to attend the march, saying, “I believe in women’t rights.”

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do before I check out,” she said. “I remember the days when I couldn’t get a credit card. I went to buy my wedding dress at Neiman Marcus in 1967.  I had to pay cash because they wouldn’t take my check; I was a single woman.”

As a sound system pounded out Madonna’s lyric, “Don’t go for second best, baby,” Soraya Hintz, 35, of San Antonio, shielded one of her four youngsters with a sign that read, “This little boy is already more man than you will ever be!”

“We are a Muslim family,” said Hintz, who attended the march with her husband, Eric. “We don’t believe in (Trump’s) platform, and we will do everything we can to bring equality to all, and that includes marching.”

Her T-shirt read “Nasty woman.” Her husband’s said, “Bad hombre.”

“America is built on freedoms for everyone,” she said. “You can’t pick and choose who everyone is.”

John Austin covers the Texas Statehouse for CNHI’s newspapers and websites. Reach him at jaustin@cnhi.com.