D.C. Protests Against Trump Supporters' "DeploraBall" Met With Tear Gas, Riot Police
Riot police responded in force to anti-fascist demonstrations outside of the 'DeploraBall,' a gala in D.C. for high-rolling Trump supporters
Protesters took to the streets of Washington, D.C. on the eve of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, chanting "No Trump! No KKK! No fascist USA!" outside of a party for high-rolling Trump supporters dubbed the "DeploraBall."
The demonstrations were met with clouds of tear gas and walls of riot police.
The gala, held at the National Press Club, was filled with Trump supporters in suits, bow ties, and ballgowns. The rarified nature of the event was at one point mocked by the anti-fascist protesters with chants of "Racist bow ties!"
The demonstrations, some organized by the anti-inaugural coalition "Disrupt J20," were creative: a giant inflatable elephant, representing the Republican Party, was adorned with a banner labeling it "Racism," while the declaration "Impeach predatory president" was projected onto the National Press Club building:
Photos and video from the night shows protesters met with militarized force at various security checkpoints, with tear gas sprayed so indiscriminately that streets were filled with clouds of the noxious gas.
This is despite evidence that the demonstrations were largely peaceful, although some protesters at one point set fire to Trump campaign signs and pushed back against the onslaught of tear gas from the police.
Journalists on the scene posted extensive footage of the aggressive police onslaught on Twitter:
Protests and riot police have returned to the same streets today, as the country braces for the inauguration of the 45th president.
Urgent. It's never been this bad.
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Protesters took to the streets of Washington, D.C. on the eve of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, chanting "No Trump! No KKK! No fascist USA!" outside of a party for high-rolling Trump supporters dubbed the "DeploraBall."
The demonstrations were met with clouds of tear gas and walls of riot police.
The gala, held at the National Press Club, was filled with Trump supporters in suits, bow ties, and ballgowns. The rarified nature of the event was at one point mocked by the anti-fascist protesters with chants of "Racist bow ties!"
The demonstrations, some organized by the anti-inaugural coalition "Disrupt J20," were creative: a giant inflatable elephant, representing the Republican Party, was adorned with a banner labeling it "Racism," while the declaration "Impeach predatory president" was projected onto the National Press Club building:
Photos and video from the night shows protesters met with militarized force at various security checkpoints, with tear gas sprayed so indiscriminately that streets were filled with clouds of the noxious gas.
This is despite evidence that the demonstrations were largely peaceful, although some protesters at one point set fire to Trump campaign signs and pushed back against the onslaught of tear gas from the police.
Journalists on the scene posted extensive footage of the aggressive police onslaught on Twitter:
Protests and riot police have returned to the same streets today, as the country braces for the inauguration of the 45th president.
Protesters took to the streets of Washington, D.C. on the eve of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, chanting "No Trump! No KKK! No fascist USA!" outside of a party for high-rolling Trump supporters dubbed the "DeploraBall."
The demonstrations were met with clouds of tear gas and walls of riot police.
The gala, held at the National Press Club, was filled with Trump supporters in suits, bow ties, and ballgowns. The rarified nature of the event was at one point mocked by the anti-fascist protesters with chants of "Racist bow ties!"
The demonstrations, some organized by the anti-inaugural coalition "Disrupt J20," were creative: a giant inflatable elephant, representing the Republican Party, was adorned with a banner labeling it "Racism," while the declaration "Impeach predatory president" was projected onto the National Press Club building:
Photos and video from the night shows protesters met with militarized force at various security checkpoints, with tear gas sprayed so indiscriminately that streets were filled with clouds of the noxious gas.
This is despite evidence that the demonstrations were largely peaceful, although some protesters at one point set fire to Trump campaign signs and pushed back against the onslaught of tear gas from the police.
Journalists on the scene posted extensive footage of the aggressive police onslaught on Twitter:
Protests and riot police have returned to the same streets today, as the country braces for the inauguration of the 45th president.