Bronx, N.Y. – Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) along with Council Member Andrew Cohen and other local elected officials attended New York City’s Women’s March along 5th avenue this past Saturday together with an estimated 400,000 people. The march in NYC was only one part of protests and rallies that spanned seven continents and included millions of people from nations across the globe, with several million in the U.S. alone. The purpose of the marches was initially to stand up to Trump and to stand up for women's rights. But the purpose seemed to broaden to encompass issues ranging from support for women's reproductive rights, affordable health care, fighting climate change, immigration reform and more. Those who came out to protest believe these issues are in jeopardy.

In the spirit of this march and in preparation for the long fight against Trump’s tyranny, the State Assembly has already begun to take measures to insulate itself from any subversion Trump and the U.S. Congress might attempt against the progressive laws and ideals that New York has upheld for decades. Assemblyman Dinowitz helped pass in the State Assembly two critical pieces of legislation to strengthen and protect women’s reproductive rights. The measures affirm a woman’s right to an abortion in New York State (A.1748) and require insurers to continue covering contraception at no cost to the consumer (A.1378).

Assemblyman Dinowitz was extremely proud that New York City had such a great turnout for the event, believing that it reflects the spirit of resistance and New York values that will be sorely needed in the years to come. He urges not only opponents of Trump but everyone that believes in women’s equality, immigration reform, affordable health care and basic human decency not to quit now but to continue in their fervor to oppose him.

“We know that Putin's boy, Trump, received help from the Russians and the FBI director and received nearly three million votes fewer than Hillary but, unfortunately, it does not matter. It's the Electoral College, not the voters, that matters. We now have to put our energy into organizing politically,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “We must work to elect Democrats into not only the U.S. Congress but the New York Senate as well. The opportunity that Donald Trump has afforded us is to take the time to build a resurgence of progressivism and change that will wipe away the divisive stain he has already left on our nation’s history and on our government.”