While President Donald Trump raised his right hand to confirm his seat in office, civilians in Washington, D.C. raised their fists to riot.
A large group of rioters dressed in all black and covering parts of their faces ran through the streets. As rioters broke windows, set cars afire, and chanted, “No Trump. No KKK. No fascist USA,” police swarmed the areas around Logan Circle and McPherson Square.
One of the participants, 20-year-old Lysander Reid-Powell, explained her interaction.
“I think Donald Trump is a Fascist, and it’s very easy for people, especially people who are in pain, to slip into fascism,” she said.
The officers used pepper spray, flash-bang devices and tear gas attempting to regain control, throwing a reporter down in the process. Officials transported two officers and one civilian to the hospital, though the injuries were not life threatening. Police arrested approximately 100 rioters in the aftermath.
Although Police Chief Peter Newsham reported several hundred people took part of this riot, he said it remains an isolated incident.
“…By and large, everything is going peacefully and a lot of folks have come to the city to enjoy this historic day, not only the Capitol, but walking all around the city,” he said.
Protestor Ashley Link said that although she understood peoples’ frustrations, the violent riots frustrated her.
“I’m all about peaceful protesting, practicing nonviolence, but at the same time, I understand why people are so frustrated,” she explained. “They are so upset about so many things in our country right now…There’s not a poster big enough to cover all the things that people are frustrated about.”
Though others protested peacefully, they did so strategically. Groups gathered at security checkpoints throughout the area to block people from seeing Trump swear in as President.
Jed Holtz, a protester from New York City, said he was there to show his opposition to President Trump’s ideals.
“We’re here to take a stand against the ideas that Trump spouted through the course of his campaign,” he said. “Sexism, Islamophobia, bigotry, and nationalism.”
While U.S. citizens focused on D.C., however, other protests occurred around the world. People in Berlin, Hong Kong, London, and the West Bank help up signs and shared their concerns with the media. Some of them in preparation for the Women’s March on Washington, set to begin tomorrow morning on Independence Avenue.
