Hundreds of protesters joined local elected officials, labor unions and grass-roots activists yesterday in an “End to End for 99%” march. The 11-mile long protest aimed to raise awareness about the economic hardships minorities living in northern Manhattan and across the country face.
Starting at 181st Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, the protesters began walking to the beat of drums and horns at 10:30 a.m., traveling all the way down Manhattan before finishing the march in Liberty Plaza at 5 p.m. Council member Jumaane Williams attended the march and gave a speech to inspire the protesters.
“Its too hard to discuss the issues,” Williams said to the crowd. “It’s not favorable to discuss injustice. It’s not proper to talk about economic disparity. We’re here to change the discussion. This revolution is citywide. It’s statewide. It’s country-wide. It’s all around the world.”
The crowd at yesterday’s march was a diverse one. People of many races participated in the march, and ages ranged from students in their 20s to elderly citizens. In addition, a number of physically disabled participants marched along the entire route.
“I marched today because the neighborhood I live in has a 17 percent unemployment rate,” said George Fernandez, 38, a state social worker. “We had everybody walk with us. Hispanics, white, blacks, you name it.”
The economic recession has hit low income and minority groups the hardest. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the unemployment rate for blacks in October was 15.1 percent. For Hispanics, that number was 11.4 percent, and whites, just 8 percent.
“I march for Washington Heights, but I also march for all people,” said Yvonne Stennett, 57, who runs a community-based organization in Washington Heights and was honored for improving living conditions in her neighborhood. “It’s been awesome to march with a rainbow of people.”