WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The third annual Women's March, expected to bring thousands of protesters to Washington D.C. and about 350 sites across the United States on Saturday, has been shadowed by accusations of anti-Semitism against some of the original organizers.
At least one march has been canceled in California, and in New York, two competing marches are expected to take place as their leaders were at odds, according to a New York Times report.
The controversy has prompted the Democratic National Committee and several other groups to distance themselves from the upcoming Washington D.C. event, local media reported.
Recent reports from Jewish magazine Tablet and The New York Times allege that anti-Semitic comments were made at the march's planning meetings.
The controversy deepened as Tamika Mallory, a Women's March co-president, appeared on ABC's "The View" on Monday and declined to denounce the frequent anti-Semitic statements by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, whom Mallory has publicly lauded.
However, the Women's March has issued multiple statements rejecting anti-Semitism on their website, including: "We recognize the danger of hate rhetoric by public figures. We want to say emphatically that we do not support or endorse statements made by Minister Louis Farrakhan about women, Jewish and LGBTQ communities."
The first Women's March drew drew 3.3 million to 5.2 million across the country in the wake of President Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony two years ago, according to local media reports, noting the marches now also face increased travel inconveniences due to ongoing partial government shutdown and harsh winter weather in midwest and east coast.
The event is aimed to maintain the grassroots momentum that has taken hold around North America to resist white nationalism, misogyny and xenophobia and to stand-up for women, girls, indigenous peoples and minorities of all types.