by Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon January 21, 2025 HudsonValley360
HUDSON — Hundreds of people took to the city's streets Saturday as part of the national People’s March, two days before the inauguration of President Donald Trump.
The march was held in conjunction with others taking place across the country, including Washington, D.C. and New York City.

Hudson’s event began in 7th Street Park with a brief rally, before traveling down Warren Street to Promenade Hill Park. In 7th Street Park, marchers were joined by local elected officials and representatives from community organizations in Columbia County.
“I feel energized right now,” Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson said before the march Saturday. “It’s ironic, because I was watching the farewell speech of our vice president [Kamala Harris], and part of me felt so sad for that moment, but she said something extremely important during that time. She said it’s not a time to be sad, but it’s a time to work. It’s the time to roll up our sleeves.”
The People’s March is larger than political parties, Columbia County Democratic Committee Chairperson Sam Hodge said before Saturday’s march.
“Today is bigger than Democrats,” he said. “This is about a coalition of people who are ready to fight for our democracy, and fight for our country.”
Demonstrators gathered in the park were rallying against the Project 2025 agenda, a published political initiative created by conservative organization The Heritage Foundation outlining proposals to restructure the United States government. They were also supporting women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigrants.
“Project 2025 does not discriminate against a political party,” 1199SEIU Capital Region Political Organizer Crystal Perry said Saturday. “It’s not about Republican, Democrat, Conservative, Independent. It doesn’t matter. We are all going to be affected by this. ”
After the rally at 7th Street Park, participants marched down Warren Street. During the protest, the crowd carried signs with words opposing Project 2025, and others that condemned Trump's comments toward immigrants and reproductive rights.
Other signs included more hopeful messages such as “hate won’t make America great,” and “power to the people.” During the march, participants also shouted various chants including “no one is illegal” and “what do we want/women’s rights.”
The event was attended by over 200 people, and while the crowd marched down Warren Street, individuals gave thumbs up out of their windows, or left their businesses to watch the demonstration.
The turnout to the Hudson People's March shows how worried people are about Trump’s next term, organizer and member of Third Act Upstate New York Michael Richardson said Saturday.
This large turnout is really reflective of how concerned we are about the next four years and how threatening this Project 2025 really is,” he said. “That's what turned people out. But what's important here is to witness that this is an intergenerational, intercultural, interfaith turnout. It's we the people who are showing up and saying we're not gonna have it.”
After marching to Promenade Hill Park, protesters stopped and continued the demonstrations with music from a brass band and chants.
Some march participants they were apprehensive about coming to Saturday’s event.
“I was unsure if I was going to come because I was feeling sort of bitter about the state of everything,” Claverack resident Marselle Reid-Jaques said. “Fortunately, my mom convinced me that I should come to the march, and so I came.”
Reid-Jaques said she was happy she ended up attending Saturday’s demonstration.
“I’m glad I’m here to represent trans people," Reid-Jaques said. "And the main reason I’m here is because I’ve really been trying to think of ways to participate more in politics in a positive and peaceful manner. I’ve been really thinking about how to create content myself that inspires people and gives people ideas for how to participate in nonviolent manners.”
Hudson resident Kyla Woods was happy to see the Hudson community come together for the march, she said.
”This is my first time in a long time actually seeing Hudson really come together as one, protesting together,” Woods said. “I'm seeing a lot of Black and brown [people]. I'm seeing a lot of people that are from different narratives, and I love that. Everybody can see one vision together — no fights, no complaints, we did it peacefully, nobody was injured.”
Woods said she was attending the march with the group Kite's Nest.
”We came out today just to let everyone know, and ourselves know, that we need a better president," she said. "We need to do things better in this world, in this economy. As a young Black woman that I am, I don't believe any man should have any rights or say so over my body. I don't tell you what to do with yours, so don't tell me what to do with mine.”
Poughkeepsie resident Johnny Bell attended the march to show resistance to Trump, and defend the rights of multiple groups, he said Saturday.
“I heard about this rally to express our resistance to Trump and the autocratic type of government that they’re trying to install,” he said. “I’m here to defend the Constitution, defend our freedom, defend people’s right to choose, and I think the rally was terrific. I’m really grateful to be here.”
Hudson’s People’s March was sponsored by multiple organizations, including Hudson Valley Strong — Indivisible, the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement, OutHudson, Citizen Action of New York, Kite’s Nest, Rivers & Mountains GreenFaith, and the Columbia County Democratic Committee.
The nationwide People’s March campaign was organized by several civil rights, racial justice and reproductive health organizations, including Planned Parenthood, Women’s March, and the National Women’s Law Center, according to the People’s March website.
Comentarios