NEW YORK Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) drew thousands of New Yorkers to her presidential campaign rally Monday in Washington Square Park, where she discussed her plans to fight corruption and support workers nationwide.

The Democratic presidential hopeful honored the scores of mostly immigrant women who died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911 which occurred about a block from where Warren spoke Monday and praised the womens trade unions that fought for change in the wake of the tragedy.

Were not here today because of famous arches or famous men, Warren said, referring to the parks iconic arch looming behind her, which is named for President George Washington. In fact, were not here because of men at all. Were here because of some hard-working women. Women who, more than a hundred years ago, worked long hours in a brown, 10-story building a block that way.

Nearly 150 people mostly Jewish and Italian female workers died in March 1911 when the factory went up in flames and their bosses, fearing the employees might steal scraps of fabric, trapped them inside by locking the exit doors.

It was one of the worst industrial disasters in American history, Warren said. One of the worst, but it should not have been a surprise.