Women's March On NYC Drew Crowd Of 400,000, Mayor's Office Says

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Donald Trump is now the 45th president of the United States, a fact that doesn't sit well for many in Manhattan, where Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton won big.

To amplify their unhappiness and underscore their demands for equality, an estimated 400,000 people took over Midtown Manhattan Saturday for the Women's March on NYC, according to the Mayor's Office.

The huge turnout far surpassed march protesters expectations of 76,000 people.

"Our mission is to provide a safe and accepting platform for supporters of equality to rally and march in promotion of civil rights for every human regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, religion or creed," Katherine Siemionko, the march's chief coordinator, said in a news release. "This historic and peaceful event is open to the public, and we warmly welcome ALL to participate."

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For those wanting to participate, or avoid, Women's Match on NYC, Patch has you covered with this handy guide. Here's everything you need to know about the march.

Live updates:

4:50 p.m.: While the area around Trump Tower remains effectively blocked, it is not diminishing the zeal of marchers, with many still joining the march. Signs and chants from the crowds unify them with marchers nationwide.

Meanwhile, the MTA is reporting that crowd conditions are impacting subway lines in Midtown.

2:25 p.m.: Marchers near 50th Street and Fifth Ave.

"Grab him by the Putin" sign seen on Fifth Ave. en route to Trump Tower.

"Melania: blink twice if you want us to save you"

2 p.m.: Below are just some of the scenes from the march in New York City.

1:50 p.m.: Senate minority leader and senior U.S. senator from New York Chuck Schumer has been spotted at the march.

1:25 p.m.: The sizable crowd at the march, much like at sister marches across the country, caused some confusion. At the beginning of the march route, people split off to find their own way to Trump Tower because of a bottleneck of people.

For those who already made it to Trump Tower, the area immediately in front of the building was blocked off as it was during the protests that took place immediately after the election.

The protest has also taken over third avenue, which was not on the original path of the march.

Patch will be updating this article live from the Women's March on NYC.

How to register:

Registration is not required to participate in the Women's March on NYC, but it is encouraged because of the number of people planning to march. Groups (10 or more people) and individual marchers can register online.

Due to the large number of marchers there will be staggered start times. Groups registering after Jan. 14 are assigned a time slot of 3:45 p.m.

When and where the march begins:

The march will kick off with a 10:30 a.m. rally at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, located on Second Avenue between East 47th and 48th streets. The rally will feature a number of speakers including Sue Doster, the co-president of InterPride, and the international association of pride organizers; New York state Sen. Liz Krueger; Bertha Lewis, founder and president of The Black Institute; Michele Irimia, a Cuban-American educator and board member of Heritage of Pride; and Shandra Woworuntu, the founding director of Mentari Human Trafficking Survivor Empowerment Program, according to a press release.

The rally will end around 11:55 a.m., which is when the march will begin. Here's a chart which details when march groups will be leaving Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza.

March route and street closures:

The march will begin at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza and end at Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue between West 56th and 57th streets. Marchers will leave the plaza heading south toward 42nd Street. Marchers will then head West on 42nd Street to Fifth Avenue. When the procession arrives at Fifth Avenue it will head north on the final stretch toward Trump Tower.

The city Department of Transportation has announced these roads will be closed from noon to 4 p.m.:

2nd Avenue between 47th Street and 42nd Street (west side)
5th Avenue between 42nd Street and 57th Street (east side)
42nd Street between 2nd Avenue and 5th Avenue (north side)
47th Street between 1st Avenue and 3rd Avenue (Dag Hammarskjold Plaza)
55th Street between 6th Avenue and Madison Avenue

If you're planning on driving in Midtown Manhattan on Saturday, you've been warned.

What marchers should, and shouldn't bring:

If you're planning on going to the march there are a number of items you should bring with you, and some you should not (either because they will cause a disturbance or are not allowed by the NYPD). The National Weather Service is predicting Saturday to be sunny with a high temperature of 54 degrees, so marchers shouldn't have to bring bulky winter wear to stay warm. Umbrellas will be allowed at the march. Click here for full New York City weather forecast.

Marchers should bring water to stay hydrated and snacks in case they get hungry during the hours-long march. For safety purposes and to take up less space, marchers should not bring bulky bags and purses. Anything that could potentially be used as a weapon could be confiscated by the NYPD, including poles for signs, metal wires, handles and some mini flags.

More answers to frequently asked questions can be found here.

Photo by mathiaswasik via Flickr/Creative Commons, Images of march by Brendan Krisel/Patch