'Rise And Roar' Women's March In NYC Putting Out Calls For Justice, Economic Rights, Equality
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - "Rise and roar" was the rallying cry at the fourth annual Women's March through New York City.
The march focuses on pay equity, #MeToo issues, immigration reform, gun reform, reproductive rights and equal rights, reports CBS2's Dave Carlin.
"(In) 2020 we have to roar, have to be heard, and it resounds to make sure it makes impact," said WMA March Co-Chairwoman Arzu-Brown. "The goal today is to bring impact and to bring change for the better."
People gathered for separate late morning rallies in Foley Square and Columbus Circle in Manhattan, where conditions became snowy and blustery as the initial march began. The two groups converged near Times Square Saturday afternoon as part of a "Rise and Roar" rally.
"We rise above the issues we face in 2020 and roar for change," one speaker told the crowd.
Participants ranged in ages from teens to the elderly, all championing social change.
"Girls can do anything boys can do, because they're equally the same," said young Adriana Gonzalez, who came to the NYC march from Greenwich, Connecticut.
Rallying to get more kids in the conversation is 15-year-old Marley Dias, of West Orange, New Jersey. She's an activist who started a campaign called #1000BlackGirlBooks back when she was in sixth grade.
"I do see a better world coming for our institutions, education and government as long as we work together and know that the ideas of kids are valid and important we can make a difference," Marley said.
"Today, we will be the change that is needed in this world! Today, we rise into our power!" activist Donna Hill told a cheering crowd in Foley Square in Manhattan.
"One way we can stop division is by recognizing that we are different. That every person is in fact, has a different experience, life story, and that race and gender do affect the way in which you go about your life, but understanding that these things are important and they make us who we are. We cannot ignore these things. We rather need to embrace them and use them as tools to create a better world," Marley said.
At noon, marchers moved down Sixth Avenue. The weather, while very cold, was dry to start with, but that soon changed en route to Times Square as snow started to fall.
"Then it started getting heavier and heavier and I was like, oh man, it's gonna be a white-out ... We did not give it up. We wanted to stay and keep marching," said Lindsay Glick, from Hartford, Connecticut.
The wife of Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang also spoke in New York City. She told CNN in an interview aired this week that she was sexually assaulted by an obstetrician while she was pregnant with the couple's first child.
MORE: Route Of Women's March 2020 In New York City (credit: Women's March Alliance)
Some marchers say it is life-changing to see so much unity.
There were marches scheduled Saturday in more than over 180 cities across the country.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)