The presidential inauguration is in a few days, and we at spoiled Media have shown our excitement about it. By excitement, let's clarify with a real quick note from our Editor-in-Chief (a more full message can be found right here): 

"Look, some of our readers wish we'd just stay away from politics. 

Those are the people that either fundamentally disagree with what we believe in and value (basic human rights for historically oppressed people of color, LGBTQ, and women etc.), or just don't think it's our place to even mention it because that's "not what we're about" and "not what they come here for." 

To the former, no; that's not what we're about. We're not strictly news-driven. We're about the urban experience. But, with that comes the many conversations we must continue to have about what influences the experiences you should have, for good or for ill. Politics is just one of those things. 

To the latter, if you come to spoiled to avoid those conversations, well, sorry. Not talking about the issues is what's brought us to this, the eve of the single most polarizing President ever elected (legitimately or otherwise, we're not really going to speculate). 

"But Obama! He was polarizing!"

No. President Obama was black. That's not polarizing, and if it is, you need to, again (sorrynotsorry for so many calls for introspection), reexamine what it is about yourself that makes a black President polarizing, especially if you're "not a racist."  

No, we're not going to be in your face about it (and if you feel that we are, you might want to reexamine how close you're already standing to these issues and take your own course of action to stand at whatever distance to them you're most comfortable)

Some people just don't want the noise of even more political posts clogging up their Facebook feed or their email inbox, but if we didn't all want to keep talking about Drumpf, he wouldn't make himself so god**** entertaining. He is and will only ever be, first and foremost, a reality TV star."

[anad]

But let's get back to protests!

If you want to share your similar opinion, fellow New Yorkers are planning to protest in a number of ways this weekend.

A few of the New York Representatives won’t be attending the inauguration in Washington D.C., including Jerry Nadler and Nydia Velázquez. Velázquez will instead attend the Women’s March on Washington the following day.

There are also a few protests planned for this week and the coming weekend, including one on January 19 that’s spearheaded by documentarian Michael Moore and expected to count Mayor Bill de Blasio, Rev. Al Sharpton, and other New York City luminaries among its ranks.

But the biggest one by far is the NYC satellite event for the Women’s March, which will happen concurrently with the D.C. event on Saturday, January 21 at 11 a.m.

According to Curbed NY, as many as 75,000 marchers are projected to participate in the event, which means—on the most basic, non-political level—that Midtown Manhattan is likely to be a bit of a mess on Saturday.

The DOT has yet to release its list of street closures for the weekend, but knowing the route beforehand will help you prepare should you be marching—or simply trying to get around the city on Saturday.

forwardmarchny


The march will begin at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza at East 48th Street and First Avenue, starting with a rally around 10:45 a.m. The march is due to travel south along Second Avenue, then turn west on 42nd Street.

Once it reaches Fifth Avenue, it’ll turn north before ending at Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue and 56th Street. Along the way, there’ll be accessible entry points, ASL interpreters, and other resources for marchers; Grand Central Terminal, meanwhile, is being used as a warming station.

Though it’s due to be 50 degrees on Saturday, so that may not be necessary.

The Women’s March website has more details, including how to register and what to expect. And while's we're at it, here’s the ACLU’s guide on what to do if you feel your rights are being violated at a protest.

Just in case. Be safe this weekend! 

[via Curbed NY] [Feature Image Courtesy Instagram] 

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