Protests Turned Violent In Washington D.C. As Donald Trump Assumed The Presidency

The inauguration of Donald Trump has sparked celebrations for some across the country, but it is also marked by several protests against the new president and his incoming administration. Michael Moore led a large protest in New York City the night before the inauguration and a protest in Los Angeles led to the arrest of over 200 according to KTLA, but all eyes were on D.C. for the day of the event.

A few different protests were planned within the city, including Trump420 In Dupont Circle, DisruptJ20 in McPhereson Square, and Inaugurate the Resistance along the planned inuagural parade route. Police were out in full force on the streets of the nation’s capital while attempting to keep protestors away from disrupting the main event, using tear gas, mace. and flash bangs on crowds of people. In response, many protestors responded by throwing pieces of concrete and bottles at police and smashing windows of businesses in the area including McDonald’s, Bank of America, and Starbucks. Two D.C. police officers and another individual were taken to the hospital for “undetermined injuries” according to CNN.

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The identities of the protestors and their affiliation isn’t known, but CNN reports that close to 95 arrests have been made. Also despite the efforts of police, some protestors managed to make it the closest section of seats at the swearing in event for Donald Trump according to The Washington Post:

They wore shirts that spelled out “R-E-S-I-S-T” and got up and started shouting “We the people!” as Trump took the oath of office at noon. As authorities removed them from the area, they raised their fists and shouted “USA! USA!” One woman yelled, “We’re for an America for all of us.”

Some in the crowd responded with taunts: “Na, na, na, na, hey, hey, hey, good bye.”

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D.C. Interim Police Chief Peter Newsham spoke to the media according to The Washington Post, pointing out that while several were involved in “significant damage to a number of blocks in our city,” but also that the majority of protests in the city were peaceful:

He said a “a very small percentage” of the thousands who came to demonstrate the inauguration resorted to violence. Newsham said demonstrators threw rocks and overturned trash cans, and broke windows at a bank, several shops including a Starbucks and an Au Bon Pain, and shattered car windows. Police said those arrested were charged with rioting.

“It’s disappointing that it had to happen,” Newsham said, praising how officers responded. “We knew this was going to be a long day. . . . Anyone who thinks they can come here and break the law, we will take them into custody.”

The bulk of protestors targeted checkpoints throughout the day, organizing sit ins around town and attempt to block access to the event itself. According to CNN, the current police plan is to keep the violent protestors away from the parade route. If the current situation is any indication, the parade might prove to be a challenge the Secret Service and D.C. Police haven’t faced since the election of George W. Bush.

We’ll update with more information as it happens.

(Via CNN / Washington Post / New York Times / Reuters / KTLA)