Michael Moore—who warned us this Trump nightmare would happen—is one of the big names leading a protest outside of Trump International Hotel Thursday night. Moore is joined by Alec Baldwin, Cher, Mayor de Blasio, Mark Ruffalo, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rosie Perez, Shailene Woodley, Robert DeNiro, Natalie Merchant, as well as a number of advocacy groups, and a ton of protesters. Crowds began forming before the 6 p.m. start time, and there is a noticeable NYPD presence.
Crowd is gathering! NYC Anti-Trump rally, 6pm, Trump Hotel on Columbus Circle! Join me, Robert DeNiro, Sally Field, Alec Baldwin, Cher, YOU!
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2017
Photographer Scott Lynch is there, and tells us that Central Park West is blocked off up 66th Street, with a stage at 60th, and Jumbotrons up CPW.
Ruffalo said in a statement, "We are sending a message to Washington that we will fight, at every step, discrimination and harmful policies, today, tomorrow and every day. [We] are coming together to stand up for one another, as we will do every day, to protect the values we hold dear."
Here's a livestream of the event:
Update: Moore spoke passionately to the crowd around 6:40 p.m., telling everyone: "We're in a very dangerous moment in history," before declaring that "we will win" against the "thin-skinned bully." He also announced the kick-off of 100 Days of Resistance. Baldwin (doing his Trump impersonation) followed, along with Julianne Moore, Rev. Al Sharpton, Marisa Tomei, Chirlane McCray, Sally Field, Cher, and more.
Around 8 p.m., Shailene Woodley said there were around 20,000 people in attendance. Soon after, Natalie Merchant closed out the rally with a song she wrote during the Bush Adminstration, before Moore began leading the crowd to Trump Tower.
Here are some scenes from the area: