Anti-Donald Trump protesters are reportedly out on the streets and sidewalks in Washington, D.C., hoping to block entrances to formal Inauguration Day events set to take place on Friday.
The Washington Times reports activists are promoting a wide variety of causes from feminist organizations to Black Lives Matters. It appears as though they may have achieved some early success.
By 8:45 a.m. on Friday morning a checkpoint at Judiciary Square apparently had to be closed due to protesters preventing access. Spectators were redirected to nearby checkpoints as police worked to get the situation under control. The checkpoints lead into formal Inauguration Day events on the National Mall, including seating to watch the inauguration itself.
The news outlet received additional reports of incidents at another checkpoint near 10th and E Street NW that police had to escort spectators around a group of protesters attempting to block that checkpoint. That incident was said to have occurred around 9:00 a.m.
Some additional reports have indicated pepper spray had been used on protester, but that appears to be unconfirmed.
Police pepper spray protester, others yell at him to stop resisting pic.twitter.com/pddhiHV6cs
— Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) January 20, 2017
Protesters take to the streets of Washington ahead of Donald Trump’s #inaugurationhttps://t.co/3dAngYF0eY pic.twitter.com/cWx5pKBs4U
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) January 20, 2017
There have been no official reports from authorities of any arrests made in connection with these incidents.
[image via screengrab]
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