95 protesters arrested at Trump inauguration, 2 police officers injured
A pair of police officers were injured and 95 protesters arrested after they smashed windows, damaged cars and threw rocks at police near Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony on Friday in Washington, D.C.
UPDATE: At least 200 people were arrested today in Washington D.C. during a large scale protest of the inauguration, some broke windows of local businesses, including a Starbucks, and a Bank of America.
Two DC police officers and one other person were taken to the hospital for undetermined injuries after run-ins with protesters, DC Fire Spokesman Vito Maggiolo told CNN. The injuries are non-life threatening.
The raucous protesters near 12th and K streets threw rocks and bottles at police, who were in riot gear and attempting to disperse the crowd with smoke and flash-bang devices.
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“We have been pointing out all along that this is a very isolated incident and 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,” Newsham said.
In a statement earlier, the DC police said protesters “acting in a concerted effort engaged in acts of vandalism and several instances of destruction of property. More specifically, the group damaged vehicles, destroyed the property of multiple businesses, and ignited smaller isolated fires while armed with crowbars, hammers, and asps.”
Police said there had been 95 arrests as of 2 p.m.
“Pepper spray and other control devices were used to control the criminal actors and protect persons and property,” police said.
“The only source of light on this miserable day is the massive, multi-racial, multi-generational progressive resistance movement led by women and people of color that’s already emerging to confront Donald Trump’s agenda of hate and growing stronger every single day,” said Democracy for America Executive Director Charles Chamberlain.
In New York, seven people were arrested at a demonstration outside of Trump Tower, according to the New York Police Department.
