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Queens joins massive crowds for Women’s March on New York

Queens joins massive crowds for Women’s March on New York
Photo by Naeisha Rose
By Patrick Donachie

People traveled from Queens, the other four boroughs and from far-flung points to protest the inauguration of President Donald Trump during the Women’s March on New York, an offshoot of the massive march planned for Washington, D.C.

The New York march was not expected to draw as many protesters, but Mayor Bill de Blasio estimated the crowd demonstrating for women’s rights at more than 400,000, far outpacing initial estimates.

Police officials said there was not a single arrest during the peaceful march by women, mothers, families with strollers, men and some special interest groups – many carrying signs that expressed sentiments like “Make America Think Again.”

The mood was upbeat and the marchers were unfailing polite, which prompted one Queens woman to speculate that they must have been out of towers and not New Yorkers.

The parade route started in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, near the United Nations Building, and concluded at 55th Street on Fifth Avenue, a block from Trump Tower. The streets were so choked with demonstrators that the march proceeded over to 42nd Street and up Fifth Avenue very slowly and well behind schedule.

One attendee, Manuela Zamora, originally hailed from Bolivia but had lived in the United States for 13 years. She said she was marching for herself, as well as for her son and daughter. She expressed worry at Trump’s picks for Cabinet posts, such as Betsy DeVos as the administration’s Education Secretary.

“It’s very depressing to see a trend in appointing people to jobs while they’re against the reason those jobs were created,” she said.

The Center for the Women of New York, which is based in Queens Borough Hall, had about 50 women marching with its group carrying a sign that said. Ann Jawin, the founder, was delighted with the huge outpouring of support for women, immigrants and the environment at the march.

Laura Williams, of the Three Parks Independent Democrats located on the Upper West Side, said she was happy to see a large amount of young people involved in the protest.

“I’m thankful I live in New York City, but there’s so much work to be done,” she said, decrying the divide she felt Trump had exploited. “Trump made so much of his campaign about pitting one group of people against another group of people, but we’re all in this together.”

Reach reporter Patrick Donachie by e-mail at pdonachie@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4573.