Nearly 300 buses were expected to travel from New Jersey to the Women's March on Washington Saturday. Watch video
PISCATAWAY -- A cheer went up shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday as a black bus rolled into the Walmart parking lot in Piscataway.
The group of 28 women and two men gathered their pink hats and protest signs and lined up to start the trip to the Women's March on Washington.
Stacy Negron-Sheckells said she was exicited to see the mix of ages, from teenagers to seniors, who paid as much as $140 each for a spot on the charter bus to join the protest.
"We've got to pass it on a little bit," said Negron-Sheckells, 59. "We have to show these young ones how to do it."
The Piscataway bus was one of nearly 300 buses expected to travel to the march from New Jersey Saturday morning. The buses are carrying at least 13,500 people, local organizers said.
Other New Jerseyans were expected to travel to the march in early morning carpools and by train.
Organizers said they would have liked to add more buses to accommodate people who wanted to go to the march, but there was a shortage of affordable charter buses for rent. Some riders said they paid up to $200 a ticket for the round-trip rides to Washington.
"We've been really, really happy with the amount of support we've gotten from New Jersey," said Felicity Crew, the co-coordinator of the New Jersey chapter of the march.
There will be a slate of celebrity speakers, including feminist icon Gloria Steinem, actress Scarlett Johansson and filmmaker Michael Moore. Demonstrators are expected to begin marching toward the Washington Monument and the Ellipse around 1:15 p.m.
Sandy Schwartz, a retired social worker from Oakhurst, said she went to an anti-Vietnam War protest on Washington in 1970 and felt like she needed to go back and protest again after Trump's election.
"I think it's important to stand up for what you believe in," said Schwartz, 68."I wanted to come and show my support for women."
Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.
