Over 200,000 people took to the streets of New York City yesterday afternoon for the second annual Women’s March, all expressing their disgust with President Trump, sexual predators, wage inequality, the GOP, racists, guns, capitalism, lack of health care, attacks on abortion rights… a whole litany of the evils that seem to dominate the American landscape these days.
The day began with a rally in front the Trump International Hotel at Columbus Circle that extended about a mile and a half up Central Park West. Speakers included Rosie Perez; Ashley Bennett, who defeated a GOP incumbent in Atlantic County, New Jersey, after he mocked last year’s Women’s March; and, most memorably, the pop singer Halsey who delivered a blistering slam poem that left many in the crowd in tears. The March itself– Columbus Circle to Bryant Park, via Central Park South and Sixth Avenue– stepped off a little after 1pm, and three hours later there were still thousands of protestors waiting to begin, thanks in part to an overabundance of NYPD barricades uptown.
here is my entire “A Story Like Mine” poem from today’s #WomensMarch2018 in NYC tw: rape / assault. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/l3fji73woM
— h (@halsey) January 20, 2018
As has become the custom at these events, there were thousands of witty-clever signs on display and plenty of street theater going on to keep everyone entertained throughout the long day. Protestors also gleefully gave the finger to every Trump-branded property along the route. More inherently serious organizations were on hand as well, such as the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Gays Against Guns.
It was the largest march in New York City since last year’s event, and one of scores of anti-Trump, pro-feminist protests around the world.