The Boston Women's March looked a little different this year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, but that didn't stop hundreds of people from gathering near the Massachusetts State House on Saturday in opposition to President Donald Trump and his attempt to appoint a new Supreme Court justice.
Demonstrators showed up to the Boston Common around 2 p.m. for the event, which organizers described online as a "march against fascism and the biggest threat to our democracy."
Women's rights marchers protested in support of equal treatment for all and against the Trump administration.
"All the lies about COVID and how we need protection and possibly forcing through a vaccine that won’t be safe,” one attendee said.
A number of signs honored the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her dying wish to not be replaced until a new president is installed.
“What’s happened with the RBG replacement is unconscionable, the way they’re pushing that through,” one man said.
Protesters believe the confirmation of conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett will cost women the right to choose whether they can have abortions in the coming years.
Local
In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area.
“Cost the rights for women to choose what happens with their own bodies. Same sex marriage. People to marry who they’re in love with and who they are destined to be with. Cost us the rights for, voting rights, civil rights. It’s all on the line,” one woman said.
The march from the State House to City Hall included multiple generations, and it was more than just women who showed up.
"I'm a human. I support rights for humans whether they are women or men and I just can't stand it when individual rights are taken away from anyone, humans, Blacks, or anyone," said one man who attended Saturday's event in the city.
Get Boston local news, weather forecasts, lifestyle and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Boston’s newsletters.
Last year, thousands of people flocked to the Boston Common for the event. There was a noticeably smaller crowd this year and participants were asked to wear a face covering and practice social distancing due to a recent spike in coronavirus cases across Massachusetts.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, however, hundreds of thousands of people around the nation headed out Saturday to participate in this year's women's march. In all, nearly 430 marches were planned in cities across all 50 states, with march organizers saying over 116,000 people had pledged to take part.
Closer to home, several other marches were scheduled to take place throughout the Bay State on Saturday, including in Amesbury, Andover, Arlington, Falmouth, Mashpee, Plymouth, Scituate, Weston and Worcester.
These demonstrations come just days ahead of the Senate Judiciary Committee's expected vote to recommend Barrett to the full Senate on Oct. 22. A final vote is expected to happen by the end of the month.
Barrett would take the seat of RBG, who died just under one month ago. If appointed, Barrett would create a 6-3 conservative majority on the high court.
The first Boston Women's March took place on Jan. 21, 2017, following Trump's inauguration. The march in Boston was one of many worldwide demonstrations that day, the first full day of Trump's presidency.
The first worldwide Women's March was the largest single-day protest in U.S. history.
