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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 1 hour later)
WASHINGTON — The dissent came early. WASHINGTON — Police fired tear gas and nonlethal flash grenades at dozens of protesters just blocks from the parade route where President Trump was scheduled to walk on Friday afternoon.
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. Protesters — some throwing rocks and bricks at the police — who assembled in the area had smashed car windows and lit trash cans on fire. Officers holding riot shields formed a phalanx and were trying to clear the area.
Earlier in the day, protesters destroyed the glass front of a Bank of America and a Starbucks in the area; images captured some people holding hammers. The Metropolitan Police Department said that at least 95 people had been arrested. A spokesman for the department said it would not release estimates on the number of protesters who were clashing with police.
The protests created a distraction from Mr. Trump’s inauguration festivities. Television stations carried extensive footage of police officers clashing with the protesters as Mr. Trump attended a lunch with lawmakers and his supporters in the Capitol.
Across the city 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.”
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 people 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.”
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 protest march of more than 50 people started about 9 a.m. in front of the Department of Energy building near the Mall and then snaked through largely closed off streets to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Shouting “Our land,” and carrying signs that read, “Resist!” and “Protect!” the protesters said they were advocating for basic environmental protections and improved housing for the poor.
“We’re here to call attention to Trump’s connections to companies that make money off of ruining people’s water,” said Hannah Jones, one of the marchers.
Ramah Kudaimi, 30, who sits on the board of the Washington Peace Center, helped organize the protest opposing 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.”
The dissent started 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 Mr. 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.”
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.
“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.”
“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.”
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.
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.