As many as 175,000 people converged on Boston Common on Saturday to march in protest of Republican President Donald Trump and in solidarity with society's most vulnerable people.
The event is part of a nationwide series of post-inauguration marches and rallies.
Nina Eichner of Somerville said she feels it's important for her to be a part of a group of people that care about a cause.
"We’re not just going to stay home and let things happen that we don’t agree with at this time. It's really easy for people to get discouraged," Eichner said.
Among the crowd were scores of women wearing pink, cat-eared, knit hats and others holding signs including one that said, "Love Not Hate Makes America Great."
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren called for challenging any Republican efforts to overturn abortion rights, take away health care from millions of Americans or tear apart immigrant families through deportation.
"Donald Trump's campaign was about attacks on women, attacks on African-Americans, attacks on Latinos, attacks on religious groups, attacks on immigrants," the Massachusetts Democrat told the crowd. "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."
A mile-long procession followed several speeches. Police said the rally was peaceful with no incidents.
Leah Cathers of Lowell attended the march with her sister. She told The Boston Globe she believes the country is going in the wrong direction.
"I'm horrified by the fact that people have forgotten that these issues are about human beings, whether it's the Muslim population or refugees," she said.
The Boston event kicked off with speeches on the Common at 11 a.m. The speeches were followed by a mile-long procession that was expected to return to the downtown park.
"This is going to be a huge march, an amazing show of solidarity and support for people who are feeling vulnerable right now," said march organizer Sydney Asbury.
Organizers initially expected 80,000 in attendance. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's office estimated the crowd at 135,000 to 150,000 people. Superintendent-in-Chief William Gross of the Boston Police Department said 150,000 participants is likely the largest rally in the Common, definitely the largest in his 33-year career. The organizers of Boston Women's March for America provided the most recent count of 175,000.
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They released a statement saying, "Today, we were so proud to stand in solidarity with 175,000 people in Boston. United by more than 600 sister marches happening throughout the world, we sent a clear message to elected leaders that we are a country that stands for equality, dignity and justice. We thank the City of Boston, all public safety officials, and our thousands of marchers for a peaceful, positive event."
Before the event even started, multiple lines on the MBTA were reporting delays due to the number of passengers heading to the event. MBTA Spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said extra service would be provided to accommodate the influx of people to the city.
The extra service included:
- Non-stop bus service starting at 3 p.m. from Copley Square to Riverside Station
- Extra Red Line service
- Extra trains on Green Line during peak "rush hour" levels
Boston Police Chief Commissioner William Evans took to Twitter to thank everyone involved for keeping the march peaceful, writing, "Really impressed by levels of respect and courtesy shown to my officers by all attending today's Boston Women's March."
