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Protesters 'Fired Up, Ready To Go' At Bergen County's First Unity March

HACKENSACK, N.J. — More than 100 protesters turned out on the courthouse steps in Hackensack for the Bergen County Unity March and Rally Sunday afternoon.

Protesters turned out by the dozens in Hackensack for the Bergen County Unity March and Rally Sunday.

Protesters turned out by the dozens in Hackensack for the Bergen County Unity March and Rally Sunday.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
Jenny Allard, far left, and other Ridgewood teachers and parents hoped to send a message to their children and students: if you see injustice, stand up for what you believe in.

Jenny Allard, far left, and other Ridgewood teachers and parents hoped to send a message to their children and students: if you see injustice, stand up for what you believe in.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
"Fired up, ready to go!" shouted protesters before Bergen County's first unity march and rally on Sunday.

"Fired up, ready to go!" shouted protesters before Bergen County's first unity march and rally on Sunday.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
State Sen. Loretta Weinberg of Teaneck: "This is a county that stands up."

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg of Teaneck: "This is a county that stands up."

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
"Hate has no home here."

"Hate has no home here."

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
Rain and cold weather didn't stop protesters from turning out on Sunday in Hackensack.

Rain and cold weather didn't stop protesters from turning out on Sunday in Hackensack.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine

Speakers included U.S. Representatives Bill Pascrell and Josh Gottheimer, State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco and representatives from several labor unions, local faith groups and community organizations.

"This is a county that stands up," Sen. Loretta Weinberg of Teaneck told Daily Voice before making  her opening remarks.

"Bergen County is diverse and unified in reaching out to people of all races, religions and backgrounds."

In his speech Tedesco said he was proud to see Bergen County residents working together in the best interest of friends, families and neighbors.

"It's important we're all united in condemning the small minority of people who have resorted to violence and property destruction, which does not represent us," Tedesco said.

"Those actions are unacceptable and those people are not our friends."

Ridgewood's Jenny Allard felt a sense of deja vu.

"All of our civil rights and women's rights that we fought for in the 1970s and '80s are starting to peel back," said Allard, who teaches law and justice at a Teterboro school.

"We've made so many great inroads securing people's rights, and people are back feeling threatened.

I refuse to sit back and let it happen.

Allard, who protested with a group of Ridgewood teachers and parents, hopes to send a message to her students: if you see injustice, stand up for what you believe in, she said.

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