Chaos as Anti-Trump D.C. Protests Erupt
CLASHES
On Friday afternoon following the inauguration and swearing in of President Donald Trump in Washington D.C., a gathering of protesters in the downtown portion of the city turned chaotic as a small group of anti-Trump self-declared "anti-fascists" clashed with police. While a large number of marchers and demonstrators were peaceful, some of the protesters attempted to set up ad hoc barricades, and hurled objects such as rocks, plastic bottles, and small pieces of cement block towards the cops. The police responded by firing off flash bangs and pepper spray in attempts to disperse the crowd. Much of the incident occurred near the intersection of K and 12th and 13th Streets NW. Protesters chanted such popular slogans as “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA” and the more succinct “Fuck Donald Trump.” Interim police chief Peter Newsham told reporters that it was just a small group, “maybe a couple hundred,” causing the chaos, literally “thousands of others” were peacefully demonstrating.