Organizers passed a microphone around to people who wanted to speak; a transgender woman, a Muslim woman, an African American man, and many others. With emotion in their voices, they praised the people who were protesting as well as the police protecting them, and they let it be known they were fighting with love. Their claims were correct, because what I observed was that the compassion and kindness the activists shared knew no limits. Some protesters wore hijabs in solidarity with Muslims threatened by Trump's policy proposals, and another man walked around handing out donuts to the protesters who had been standing in the cold for hours.

At about 8:30pm a transgender woman recalled all the transgender suicides which had occurred in recent years, and called the protesters to action. She led the passionate protesters from Trump Tower, around the blockades on 5th Avenue, and they set off down the streets of Manhattan. They marched together, armed with clever chants and powerful messages, as New Yorkers looked from their office windows, and clerks stood outside of their stores in awe. Spectating minorities flashed grins as wide as the streets in which the protesters marched. LGBTQ couples embraced each other, with tears in their eyes. The whole city's attention was on them. Regardless of whom the onlookers were supporting, it was hard not to respect the passion the protesters had for standing up for what they believe in.

DISCLAIMER: SOME OF THE FOLLOWING IMAGES CONTAIN LANGUAGE WHICH MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AUDIENCES.