MASSIVE CROWD TURNS OUT FOR HUB EVENT
A massive crowd of more than 150,000 Boston-area demonstrators flooded Boston Common yesterday to take part in the Boston Women’s March for America — a protest that coincided with dozens of others around the world that organizers say drew more than 1 million marchers.
Bay State U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey joined Attorney General Maura Healey and Mayor Martin J. Walsh at the rally, which overwhelmed the MBTA and the commuter rail and snarled traffic across the city.
“We are in marches to say we are fighting back,” Warren said to a loud round of applause. “That’s who we are. We come here to stand shoulder to shoulder, to make clear we are here, we will not be silent, we will not play dead, we will fight for what we believe in.”
The local marchers, many of whom were decked out in pink “pussyhats,” carried hand-made signs with slogans like, “Love Trumps Hate,” “Make America Kind Again,” and “Don’t Mess With Lady Liberty.” Many said they were there to defend women’s rights and reproductive rights.
Attorney General Maura Healey vowed to challenge the Trump administration.
“We’re going to stand up to bullies,” Healey said. “We’re going to protect the vulnerable. ... I have a message for President Trump. The message from people of Massachusetts is, ‘we’ll see you in court.’ ”
Walsh said seeing so many people turn out in protest was a welcome sight.
“Two days ago I had this kind of feeling I had inside of me,” Walsh said. “I couldn’t quite understand; it wasn’t a cold but it wasn’t a good feeling. Yesterday, as I watched the first actions of our new president, I knew where my sickness was coming from. It was a sickness from watching what was happening and what is going to happen to our country. But today when I walked into Boston Common that sickness left. Because when I look around, I see Americans fighting for their rights.”
Organizers said they hope the rally will encourage women and minorities to run for office, register to vote and support local journalism.
“We’re giving a platform to represent the diversity of our country,” said Kim Whittaker, 57, of Winchester, who helped coordinate the event. “This is not about any one person. This is about our country and citizen engagement. The concept that our government is an abstract notion is false. We are the government.”
from Mystic, Conn. “I hope this generation takes over from what we did 40 to 50 years ago. ... I hope in 40 years they won’t have to do it again.”
Many older activists who participated in protests during the Vietnam Era cheered on younger women in the march.
“We have so much hope,” said Pat Houser, 72, a research consultant