Veteran Hollywood actor Robert De Niro has termed US President-elect Donald Trump “a bad example” of the United States and New York City.
De Niro, accompanied by actors Alec Baldwin and Mark Ruffalo, was the first to address demonstrators at a Thursday night event held just half-a-mile from Trump Tower. The protest, also attended by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, activist Al Sharpton and filmmaker Michael Moore, was organised as a show of force against Trump on the eve of his inauguration on Friday.
The protest event was organised by Greenpeace and the liberal activist organisation MoveOn, according to Hollywood Reporter. The demonstration, held outside Trump International Hotel and Tower, was attended by thousands.
As the first celebrity speaker to take the stage at the rally, De Niro read out mean tweets about the President-elect, adding that he thought Trump was “a bad example” of the US and New York City.
Baldwin spoke and inserted a few Trump impressions along the way, commenting on Trump and his cabinet picks. “These people are a disgrace, but there is hope. Trump and Pence think you’re going to lay down. That’s one thing about New Yorkers: You don’t lay down,” he said.
Sharpton also roused the crowd as he spoke after Baldwin’s speech and mimicked Trump. He said, “This is Donald Trump’s hometown, but the hometown folk do not behave like Donald Trump. America is already great, and we will make it even greater.”
“We’re at a very dangerous moment in history. As bad as you think it’s going to be, it’s going to be worse. The good news is there are more of us than there are of them,” Moore said.
Ruffalo cheered the crowd and said, “Man, I needed this. Did you need this? We’re coming here tonight to protect something precious to us, and that’s each other.”
Cynthia Nixon offered a message to the LGBTQ community, saying that “We are not going back … we are here, we are queer and we have no fear!” Addressing Muslims, Mexicans and “straight white males” in the audience Nixon said, “The LGBT community has got your back.”
Actresses Shailene Woodley, Marisa Tomei and Julianne Moore and other activists were also present on the occasion.