Security for President-elect Donald Trump was unprecedented in Midtown yesterday, when as many as 7,500 protesters were split between the two locations in NYC in opposition to the candidates election victory.
56th Street was completely shut down. On 5th avenue, security was so concerned about the President-elect’s safety, dump trucks full of sand were placed as barricades around Trump Tower. ABC Eyewitness News even learned that the FAA has put a temporary flight restriction above the building until Trumps Inauguration.
Here you can see protesters chanting “Racist, sexist, anti-gay! Donald Trump must go away!”, “F— your wall!” and banging drums as they march past 30 Rock up Sixth Avenue.
Trump protesters pass by 30 Rock pic.twitter.com/KJZCvO2GBW
— Hasani Gittens (@hgitty) November 10, 2016
Trevor Wheeler, a young NYC implant told NBC news:
“It’s horrible that we have to do this […] I identify as a queer person. I will most likely lose my right to get married. … I will not be able to present myself the way I want to.”
An NYC teacher, Julia Dunn, told NBC 4 New York:
‘There’s a man who’s the human embodiment of hate who’s going to become our next president, so the best thing we can do is try to connect with people who are representing love and connection.’
Among the thousands of disgruntled voters in Downtown Manhattan last night, the pop star Cher had this to say to one protester.
“Cher just told me we have to fight. I trust in Cher.’
Even the queen of Pop, Madonna, posted footage of crowds chanting ‘Not my President!’ on her Instagram feed.
A video posted by Madonna (@madonna) on
The apparent organizers of the rally, “Socialist Alternative”, asked for people to ‘build a movement to fight racism, sexism, and Islamophobia’. The words ‘Fight white power‘ and ‘Love Trumps Hate‘ were were seen scrawled on signs all across the city.
A Recording Of A Live Stream Of Union Square:
Ruptly’s Live Footage from Union Square Park:
The NYPD at Trump Tower
Protests outside of trump tower are stretching down at least two blocks pic.twitter.com/zZauRXev46
— Drew O’Shanick (@MyNameisDawew) November 10, 2016
MORE: “Large contingent” of anti-Trump protesters marching toward Trump Tower in New York City https://t.co/J54RiABFFl pic.twitter.com/KGnDIVeYly
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 10, 2016
Even though it is believed 30 New Yorkers were arrested, the protests were, for the most part, peaceful in New York City. Violence did break out in Seattle and Oakland, whether the situation will escalate or dissipate today is unclear.
We do hope that if protests do continue through the week, that they are peaceful. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi — ‘Be the change that you wish to see in the world.’
Featured image source [twitter @MyNameisDawew]