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‘This Is Our Right’: Inauguration Protests Erupt With a Mission to Disrupt | ‘This Is Our Right’: Inauguration Protests Erupt With a Mission to Disrupt |
(about 2 hours later) | |
WASHINGTON — The dissent came early. | WASHINGTON — The dissent came early. |
From ocean to ocean, from the Midwest and the Maryland suburbs, the protesters came here to stand on a different side of history, trudging beneath a spitting rain toward a celebration they were powerless to stop but desperate to at least interrupt: the presidential inauguration of Donald J. Trump. | From ocean to ocean, from the Midwest and the Maryland suburbs, the protesters came here to stand on a different side of history, trudging beneath a spitting rain toward a celebration they were powerless to stop but desperate to at least interrupt: the presidential inauguration of Donald J. Trump. |
They hauled signs: “Reject, Resist,” “Putin’s Orange Puppet,” “Rage, Rage Against the Dying of Our Rights.” | They hauled signs: “Reject, Resist,” “Putin’s Orange Puppet,” “Rage, Rage Against the Dying of Our Rights.” |
They chanted — “We are a peaceful protest!” — but by late morning, several shop windows in downtown Washington had been shattered, the air filling with a spray deployed by police. | They chanted — “We are a peaceful protest!” — but by late morning, several shop windows in downtown Washington had been shattered, the air filling with a spray deployed by police. |
Others encountered officers in riot gear and crowd-dispersing sprays that burned in their eyes — the sprays’ contents spreading to restaurant workers at a refreshment booth nearby. | Others encountered officers in riot gear and crowd-dispersing sprays that burned in their eyes — the sprays’ contents spreading to restaurant workers at a refreshment booth nearby. |
Along several access points, the protesters hoped simply to put themselves in the way, locking arms. | Along several access points, the protesters hoped simply to put themselves in the way, locking arms. |
“This is our right,” said Mica Reel, 21, who took part in an attempted human blockade near an inauguration entrance, “to stand here.” | “This is our right,” said Mica Reel, 21, who took part in an attempted human blockade near an inauguration entrance, “to stand here.” |
Mr. Trump was sworn in around noon. The resistance was already well underway. | Mr. Trump was sworn in around noon. The resistance was already well underway. |
Across the city — and with rallies planned throughout the country all weekend, cresting with a massive women’s march in Washington on Saturday — the demonstrations simmered in the hours before Mr. Trump was to take office. | Across the city — and with rallies planned throughout the country all weekend, cresting with a massive women’s march in Washington on Saturday — the demonstrations simmered in the hours before Mr. Trump was to take office. |
Some convened before sunrise, in downtown Washington, to protest Mr. Trump’s immigration policies, a gathering dotted with black hats that read “Not My President.” | Some convened before sunrise, in downtown Washington, to protest Mr. Trump’s immigration policies, a gathering dotted with black hats that read “Not My President.” |
The Metropolitan Police Department said that about 95 arrests had been made in connection with protests as of early Friday afternoon. | |
Ramah Kudaimi, 30, who sits on the board of the Washington Peace Center, helped organize the protest and said Mr. Trump’s proposed immigration policies would destroy a number of communities and would hurt groups like Muslims and transgender people. | Ramah Kudaimi, 30, who sits on the board of the Washington Peace Center, helped organize the protest and said Mr. Trump’s proposed immigration policies would destroy a number of communities and would hurt groups like Muslims and transgender people. |
“It’s important from Day 1 of Trump’s administration that we make clear that we are going to be disrupting his agenda,” she said. “When communities are under attack, we are going to fight back.” | “It’s important from Day 1 of Trump’s administration that we make clear that we are going to be disrupting his agenda,” she said. “When communities are under attack, we are going to fight back.” |
Just before 9 a.m., about 150 protesters gathered in McPherson Square, breaking off in groups to march along I Street. An organizer advised two dozen charges on the day’s aims: to disrupt Mr. Trump’s celebration as much as possible — an objective, he predicted, that would rankle “mainly police officers and Trump supporters.” | Just before 9 a.m., about 150 protesters gathered in McPherson Square, breaking off in groups to march along I Street. An organizer advised two dozen charges on the day’s aims: to disrupt Mr. Trump’s celebration as much as possible — an objective, he predicted, that would rankle “mainly police officers and Trump supporters.” |
“Police officers,” a woman in the crowd grumbled, “are Trump supporters.” | “Police officers,” a woman in the crowd grumbled, “are Trump supporters.” |
A few attendees drummed on buckets, nodding at the instructions. At least a few wondered aloud about divine intervention in the weather. “It’s the Earth crying,” said Elodie Huttner, 52, “about the climate-denial president.” | A few attendees drummed on buckets, nodding at the instructions. At least a few wondered aloud about divine intervention in the weather. “It’s the Earth crying,” said Elodie Huttner, 52, “about the climate-denial president.” |
Before 11 a.m., windows at a bank and cafe had been shattered during a passing demonstration on I Street — images captured protesters holding hammers — with witnesses reporting that a police spray had been deployed. | Before 11 a.m., windows at a bank and cafe had been shattered during a passing demonstration on I Street — images captured protesters holding hammers — with witnesses reporting that a police spray had been deployed. |
Most groups were tamer. | Most groups were tamer. |
Near the Capitol South Metro station, 52 middle-school students, bused in from Massachusetts, wore matching blue hats and held red pom-poms. | Near the Capitol South Metro station, 52 middle-school students, bused in from Massachusetts, wore matching blue hats and held red pom-poms. |
“We have a pretty split group of supporters and nonsupporters,” said Anna Baboval, a seventh-grade geography teacher. “But they’re all pretty excited to experience history.” | “We have a pretty split group of supporters and nonsupporters,” said Anna Baboval, a seventh-grade geography teacher. “But they’re all pretty excited to experience history.” |
A teenager approached Ms. Baboval. “Would it be bad if I bought a pin with a swear on it?” he asked. | A teenager approached Ms. Baboval. “Would it be bad if I bought a pin with a swear on it?” he asked. |
“Please don’t do that,” she said. | “Please don’t do that,” she said. |
Other protest literature was more subtle. Kenneth Harringer, a 54-year-old tax preparer from Silver Spring, Md., held a sign rendered in Russian, citing the country’s interference in the election. Its message: “Not My President.” | Other protest literature was more subtle. Kenneth Harringer, a 54-year-old tax preparer from Silver Spring, Md., held a sign rendered in Russian, citing the country’s interference in the election. Its message: “Not My President.” |
“Google Translate,” Mr. Harringer said. | “Google Translate,” Mr. Harringer said. |