Hundreds of people took to the streets of Manhattan on Saturday as Women’s Marches took place in New York City and around the world.
The Women’s March started as a protest of the 2016 election result with millions marching after Trump’s inauguration. Much of this year’s crowd still focused on President Trump. This time, however, to demand his defeat in November.
The Women’s March––the self-acclaimed first intersectional feminist policy platform––has worked hard to revamp their mission. This year they created a set of 24 essential policy priorities, which include environmental justice, LGBTQIA rights, civil rights, and more. The March demanded these policy changes, with the common denominator being this: dump Trump.
“Trump and his administration are bent on silencing us. If it were up to him, there would be no Women’s March,” said Rachel O’Leary Carmona, Head Operating Officer of the National Women’s March organization. “This year’s March is more crucial than ever. We won’t allow anyone to divide us or keep us from being the women who make Trump a one-term president.”
The March kicked off at 10:30 am near West 72nd Street and Central Park West. Hundreds rallied around Columbus Circle, where speakers set the tone for the march down Manhattan’s West Side.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) the minority leader, made an appearance. Evelyn Yang, the wife of presidential candidate Andrew Yang, spoke to the crowd. Other political leaders and activists gave speeches across the world, reaching as far as Aotearoa, New Zealand.
The theme of this year’s March was “Rise and Roar,” a combination of action and unity. As a movement accused of disorganization and exclusion in the past, the March looked to refocus its mission and further diversify its staff.
Their mission states: “Women’s March is committed to dismantling systems of oppression through nonviolent resistance and building inclusive structures guided by self-determination, dignity and respect.” Rinku Sen, a co-president of the Women’s March board of directors, emphasized their commitment to inclusion. “There are 16 new women leading the Women’s March as a volunteer board,” she said.
Protesters showed up to unite on the basis of these issues, but they also showed up with sights on this year’s general election date – November 3.
Anti-Trump protest signs dominated the streets of New York City Saturday: “I hate crowds but I hate Trump more,” “Trump made America Hate Again,” and “Human Rights Nightmare.” Supporters also carried signs for Sanders, Warren, Buttigieg, and Yang as they rallied. Crowds demonstrated their distaste for Trump and his administration, but also their plan to replace him in November.
“We rose up today to demand our elected officials step up and join us in building a just, bold vision for our country where climate justice, reproductive freedom, and immigrants’ rights are not up for debate,” Women’s March organizer stated in a release. “And it was powerful.”
