News site of the year

World
  1. Home
  2. World

Donald Trump Inauguration: Protesters take to the streets of Washington

  • 119 reading now

Washington: Protesters who had promised to shut down Washington for the Donald Trump inauguration were successful at several security checkpoints on Friday morning, but the event went ahead with few hitches.

Up Next

Jackie Evancho sings at Trump's inauguration

null
Video duration
02:03

More World News Videos

null
Video duration
02:03

Jackie Evancho sings at Trump's ...
null
Video duration
01:32

Obamas leave as Trump begins presidency
null
Video duration
02:17

Trump speech: 'This is your day'
null
Video duration
00:30

Italy earthquake avalanche rescue ...
More videos

Anti-Trump protests turn violent in DC

Activists protesting President Donald Trump's inauguration smash shop and car windows in Washington.

The crowds did, however, slow crowds from entering onto the Mall and, in one spot, stopped them completely.

"Shut it down!" protesters shouted at the checkpoint at John Marshall Park. There, five men stood at the front of the crowd, chained together, blocking the path.

Related Content

Brought to DC from places across the country, the five men were protesting on behalf of the Black Lives Matter movement. As they stood together, they shouted that by protesting, "all we have to lose is our chains."

Just after 8.30am local time, police began redirecting people to other entrances, though police officials said they have not officially shut down any checkpoints. An officer at the location said the size of the protest will determine whether the checkpoint remains blocked or if people will be allowed to enter again Friday.

Advertisement

As protesters at the spot shouted "This is what democracy looks like," a Trump supporter countered. He pointed to the other side of the fence and said, "This is what democracy looks like but I can't get to it because of you!"

Michael Henning came from Dalton, Ohio, to see Trump sworn in and said he was concerned with how the police handled the situation.

"We drove 20 hours and now we can't get in," he said. "Everyone should have just brought guns and had it out, I'd be happy if they just dropped a bomb on them."

At another moment, just before 10.30am, a large group of black-clad protesters made their way south on 13th Street near K Street, throwing newspaper boxes and garbage cans into the street and setting them on fire.

Some carried signs, including one that read: "No peaceful transition." Police cleaned up behind them as they marched, and authorities used chemical spray in an attempt to disrupt the vandalism.

It is unclear how many protesters descended on the nation's capital for the inauguration, but law enforcement officials were bracing for more than 60 demonstration groups, both in support of and against Mr Trump.

About two dozen groups have received permits for specific gathering spaces for Friday and Saturday, when the Women's March will take over the streets. According to their permit requests, some of those groups Friday were anticipating as few as 20 participants; others were planning for tens of thousands.

In the days leading up to the inauguration, protests started with one group shutting down K Street in downtown Washington and gay rights advocates holding a dance party near the temporary home of Vice President-elect Mike Pence in Chevy Chase, complete with biodegradable glitter and the hashtags #WeAreQueer #WeAreHere #WeWillDance.

Thursday night, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the National Press Club in downtown Washington, where the "DeploraBall" was being held. They shouted obscenities and insults such as "racist" and Nazi" at those attending the celebratory ball on the eve of Trump's inauguration, and at one point someone threw an object that hit a counter protester in the head. Officers directed chemical spray at the crowd multiple times after protesters began throwing trash at Trump supporters who were leaving the building.

A group of about 100 LBGT activist marched past McPherson Square about 7.30am, some of them holding a banner that read: "Out of the Closet. Into the Streets."

They then made their way to one of the security checkpoints that Trump supporters would have to pass through to view the inauguration, where they danced and sang along to Abba and Madonna and filled the wet pavement with blue and purple glitter. They blew whistles and oversized yellow plastic horns.

"We are here as a celebration of all the rights we have achieved as a movement and to stand up for ourselves," said Mike McVicker-Weaver, 40, an HIV health care worker from Baltimore.

At a checkpoint neat 10th and E streets early Friday, a group of women tied themselves together with purple yarn and sat down, blocking people from passing.

"Hey, hey, ho, ho! Donald Trump has to go!" the group of about 100 mostly young protesters said. "End white supremacy!"

The protest continued until a large group of inauguration attendees – many dressed in suits and dress clothes – tried to push through the human barricade. People started falling to the ground and swearing until police officers helped create a lane for the attendees to pass through.

Not all of the demonstrations on Friday were anti-Trump. Among those groups that requested permits for space are two organisations that support him: Bikers for Trump and Let America Hear Us, Roar for Trump.

The latter was sharing Dupont Circle with a group that did not request a permit but set up there early Friday – DCMJ, which was formerly known as the D.C. Cannabis Campaign and was behind the successful effort to legalise marijuana in the District in 2015.

The group, which started rolling joints this month, planned to hand out 4,200 before marching to the Mall. Once there, there was a plan to light up four minutes and 20 seconds into Trump's speech.

A 40-year-old pot grower named Josh stood near Dupont Circle on Friday morning, controlling the line, which stretched up Massachusetts Avenue. He said he had donated a half-pound of his own weed for the giveaway.

"I'd appreciate it if you don't do any illegal here," he told the crowd. "If you want to do something illegal, take it down the block."​

Another organisation, the ANSWER Coalition, planned to host a large gathering at the US Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The group, which stands for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, planned to have a 28-foot stage and large sound system to showcase speakers and performers throughout the morning and afternoon.

The main message was one of resistance to the Trump agenda.

The group had thousands of signs ready to hand out. Among them are: "Say no to racism," "Stop the Trump Agenda" and "Inaugurate the Resistance."

The Washington Post​

Related Content