Crowds of women dressed in black gathered outside Trump campaign headquarters Tuesday to protest the candidate, asking for his party to formally repudiate their own presidential candidate. The protests started last week in New York, and have since expanded to various cities around the country. The protesters chanted"Donald Trump thinks he runs this town, pussy came to shut it down!" while outside Trump Tower, Jezebel reports. With several protests taking place in as many as 15 cities, these women also took to Twitter with the hashtags #GOPHandsOffMe and #TrumpvsAllofUS.
This is one of several protests around the country today called "Pussy Grabs Back." (Lights are off in the Trump office, btw) pic.twitter.com/3CBSCu1aEL
— Aubrey Whelan (@aubreyjwhelan) October 18, 2016
Dozens of actions across the countries this morning to say #GOPHandsOffMe. Here's DC, at Trump International Hotel. It's #TrumpVsAllofUs. pic.twitter.com/ZNY0kBau5f
— Collin Rees (@collinrees) October 18, 2016
Organizer Jodeen Olguin-Tayler has said the protests aren't just about Trump—they're also meant to target the GOP's treatment of women in general. In an interview with ColorLines, she said "... I’m appalled not only by the GOP's 50+ years of misogyny and racism, but also that they continue to support this sexual predator for president." She pledged that the first protest wouldn't be their last, and with Tuesday's protest, it seems they've stuck to their promise.
Trump has been under fire for his sexual conduct since the release of a 2005 hot mic video in which he discusses kissing and grabbing women "by the pussy" without their consent. Since then at least nine women, from random airplane seatmates to Apprentice contenstants, have accused him of inappropriate touching and downright sexual assault. He has denied all allegations against him and has said the language in the 2005 video was "locker room talk." Melania, his wife, has said he was egged on during the conversation, adding that Donald Trump is easily influenced—Not the best argument when you're trying to defend a potential POTUS, but anyway.
Trump supporters are getting heavy criticism for refusing to back down from a candidate who's allegedly a sexual predator, and several Republican leaders have rescinded their support. Others are trying to separate themselves but have not formally withdrawn from the candidate. This move has drawn criticism from both sides, with Trump himself saying he doesn't think his own party wants him to win and suggesting the "elite" rigged the election.
With just three weeks left until election day, it's highly unlikely the party will disavow their candidate. But nothing wrong with a little wishful thinking.