Thousands March in Poughkeepsie for Women's Rights, Diversity, Inclusion

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Thousands of women, men and children — and quite a few dogs on leashes — participated in the Poughkeepsie Women’s March Saturday on the Walkway Over the Hudson.

The Dutchess County march was one of 600 taking place all over the United States the day after the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump.

The number of marchers was estimated at 5,000, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Patricia Anderson, of Hopewell Junction, said she was marching because she was concerned the new administration would take away the Affordable Care Act and Planned Parenthood.

“I think we need to preserve not only the ACA but women’s reproductive rights,” she said.

“I don’t want to see the GOP get in there and try to legislate reproductive rights,” Anderson said.

The march began at 9 a.m. and it took a little over an hour to walk to the other side and back.

While the official start was on the Poughkeepsie side, people from Ulster County and beyond started on the west side of the river.

Besides colorful knitted caps and a multitude of signs — some not repeatable in polite company — marchers chatted along the way, running into friends and frequently taking selfies to commemorate the occasion.

Among the many signs advocating for women’s reproductive rights and continuing the Affordable Care Act was one that read “UGH WHERE DO I EVEN START.”

The Walkway Over the Hudson is a New York State Historic Park, spanning the Hudson River between the Town of Lloyd in Ulster County and the City of Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County.

The 3,000-foot span was originally a railroad bridge, but it caught fire in 1974 and was taken out of service.

It opened as the Walkway Over the Hudson in 2009.

The Poughkeepsie Women’s March wasn’t the only event in the Hudson Valley.

WESTPAC Foundation put together a “Resist the Trump Agenda” Saturday afternoon in Beacon.

Organizers said the event would feature speaking out for human rights for everyone, for climate justice and to protect civil liberties.

State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, D-Scarsdale, organized buses to the Washington, DC women’s march from Eastchester.

Hudson Valley residents also boarded buses in Kingston to travel to the nation’s capital for the march.

Unless otherwise indicated, all photo/video credit: Michael Woyton/Patch Staff.