We Stand United started as an idea to foster connections and unity, and to provide a hopeful vision in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election. On the night before Trump’s Inauguration, We Stand United hosted a rally that brought together more than 25,000 New Yorkers outside Trump International Hotel and Tower in Columbus Circle. The rally featured advocates from over 70 immigrants rights, civil rights, environmental, LGBTQ, and human rights organizations as well as Mayor de Blasio, Reverend Al Sharpton, Robert De Niro, Cher, Rosie Perez, Alec Baldwin, Mark Ruffalo, Marisa Tomei, Sally Field, Michael Moore, Natalie Merchant, Shailene Woodley, Julianne Moore, and Cynthia Nixon. The rally was featured prominently in news stories, reaching tens of millions of Americans including more than 13.6 million people who watched on Livestream. #WeStandUnited trended on Twitter on the night of the rally and became prominent over the Inauguration weekend.
Since then, We Stand United has continued to build alliances and collaboration across the resistance movement and around critical fights. We Stand United is a 501(c)4 organization, coordinated by a group of organizers, advocates, artists, and others, with ties across the Resistance Movement.