NYC Women's March 2019: Start Times, Street Closures, Controversy

NEW YORK, NY — Three year's after women took to the streets in cities all across the United States to protest the administration of President Donald Trump, the movement is still going strong. But this year's women's march will look a bit different in New York City than years past due to a fracture within the movement's national organization over accsations of anti-Semitism.

New York City will be host to two separate events Saturday, a women's march on the Upper West Side and Midtown that resembles years past and a new "women's unity rally" held in Lower Manhattan's Foley Square.

Need a quick refresh on the contoversy? Read Patch's coverage on why two women's marches were organized this year.

Whether you're going to the Central Park West march or the Foley Square rally, here's everything you need to know about both rallies.

Women's March Alliance

Start time: There will be a brief kick-off to the march starting at 11 a.m. The kick-off is expected to take between 15 and 30 minutes before the march gets going. This is a change from last year's march, which was preceded by a longer rally.

Route: The march begins on Central Park West and West 72nd Street and continues south to Columbus Circle. From the circle, marches will head east to Sixth Avenue and continue south toward West 44th Street.

Road Closures: The following streets will be shut down to car traffic for march safety. The NYPD may also close addition streets as it sees fit.

• Route:
  • Columbus Circle between Central Park West and 59th Street
  • 59th Street between Columbus Circle and Sixth Avenue
  • Sixth Avenue between 59th Street and 45th Street
  • Sixth Avenue between 59th Street and 45th Street
• Dispersal:
  • Sixth Avenue between 45th Street and 43rd Street
  • 45th Street between Broadway and Fifth Avenue
  • 44th Street between Broadway and Fifth Avenue
  • 43rd Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue

Getting there: Streets will be closed off and packed with people surrounding the march route, so public transportation is the best option. The nearest subway stop to the march entrance is West 72nd Street and Broadway on the 1, 2 and 3 lines.

National Women's March: 2019 Women's Unity Rally

Start time: The Women's Unity Rally will begin around 10 a.m. and is expected to continue until about 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Route: The rally will be contained within Foley Square in Lower Manhattan. The National Women's March did not acquire marching permits, and attempts to unite with the Women's March Alliance proved unsuccessful.

Events: The Women's March Alliance described the rally as an event to "highlight the leadership of Black women, immigrant women and women of color as part of the national #WomensWave, and in response to the Trump Administration's continued assault on immigrant communities and communities of color."

Road Closures: The following streets will be shut down to car traffic for march safety. The NYPD may also close addition streets as it sees fit.

• Lafayette Street between Reade Street and White Street
• Thomas Paine (Foley Square)

Getting there: Foley square is located blocks from the City Hall subway stations. The 4, 5, 6, J, Z, R and W trains all stop near City Hall.

Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images Entertainment