More than a thousand people have already massed along Central Park West this afternoon for a national Not My Presidents Day rally, and the crowd is still growing on the blocks north and south of Trump International Hotel. The sun is shining, the crowd is multigenerational, and a brass band has already led the crowd through a slightly sloppy rendition of 'America the Beautiful.'
America the Beautiful at Columbus circle #NOTMYPRESIDENTSDAY rally pic.twitter.com/7ZTWxgGNkj
— Scott Heins (@scottheins) February 20, 2017
There's also a contingent of about 25 Trump supporters gathered in Columbus Circle, matching chants of "Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Donald Trump has go to to go!" with their own, "Ho, ho! Hey, hey! Donald Trump is here to stay!"
Photographer Scott Heins says that the chants often overlap, and that a woman holding an anti-Trump sign recently used it to bonk one of the most vocal Trump supporters on the brim of his MAGA hat. Tourists are taking pictures, the crowd is peppered with knitted pink pussy hats, and several police officers have moved towards the pro-Trump contingent, but are still keeping their distance.
The MAGA counter-demonstrators are here arguing for Fox and Brietbart #NOTMYPRESIDENTSDAY pic.twitter.com/w6NnLxoL0M
— Scott Heins (@scottheins) February 20, 2017
Join the @RefuseFascism contingent at 65th n Central Park West! #NOTMYPRESIDENTSDAY pic.twitter.com/nJQFNmYxsO
— #NoFascistUSA (@RefuseFascism) February 20, 2017
Packed at least five blocks up Central Park West from Columbus Circle, the rally is hemmed in by police barricades on both sides. Beyond the ongoing pro-Trump confrontations in Columbus Circle, Heins says the "vast majority of protesters are on Central Park West waving their signs."
#notmypresidentsday Holding pens stretching up to 67th from 59th. NYPD rushing to add more. #resist pic.twitter.com/VEtntMMUZt
— Dan Hetteix (@danhetx) February 20, 2017
The thoughts of millions perfectly summed up by this man. #PresidentsDay #Notmypresidentsday #FUTrump pic.twitter.com/iOeHcx8cT3
— Milt on Tilt (@MiltOnTilt) February 20, 2017
Blocks of protesters on what's billed as #NOTMYPRESIDENTSDAY in NYC pic.twitter.com/WOIrHxyfZB
— Aaron Katersky (@AaronKatersky) February 20, 2017
We'll have more photos and a full report later. In the meantime, there's still time to participate: the rally is scheduled to last until about 4:00 this afternoon.
Reporting by Scott Heins.