Here’s some news that was absolutely and utterly expected … so much so that the news cameras were set up next to protest hot spots and waiting for something dramatic to happen to break up the boredom while the elite partied in Union Station.
DeploraBall: Line of cops on the left, line of journos on the right, everybody waiting for the story to show up. pic.twitter.com/9tsitpOGpw
— Matt Pearce ? (@mattdpearce) January 20, 2017
A few doors down from the National Press Building @WTOP pic.twitter.com/sUyoRJ9ejM
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) January 20, 2017
Groups like Resist Fascism and DisruptJ20 have been crowing about their plans for weeks, and now there are reports of “smoke devices” being set off (by protesters or police isn’t clear) in the streets, along with the requisite chants of “F**k Trump!”
#BREAKING. Smoke devices. I'm at 14th St. & F St. Protesters set off "smoke devices." Some scream "F- Trump." #Inauguration #NBC4DC pic.twitter.com/cxyvH3Dv2Z
— Shomari Stone (@shomaristone) January 20, 2017
A lot of the fuss was centered outside the National Press Building, where the pro-Trump “DeploraBall” was being held.
The scene outside of the National Press Club, where a pro-Trump "Deploraball" has been met with over 100 protesters pic.twitter.com/hbeQVYOQfW
— Nick Corasaniti (@NYTnickc) January 20, 2017
Outside the National Press Club where the Deploraball starts later @WTOP pic.twitter.com/VljQJ4DP2l
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) January 20, 2017
There's a bit of smoke (I don't know the source) and a bit of a ruckus, and the police pushed everybody back from the entrance. pic.twitter.com/uzCLyucQwk
— Matt Pearce ? (@mattdpearce) January 20, 2017
I think somebody might be throwing firecrackers.
— Matt Pearce ? (@mattdpearce) January 20, 2017
Gas being deployed -many protestors moving back @WTOP pic.twitter.com/l9ON6Df0X1
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) January 20, 2017
Woman receiving eye care — looks to have been pepper sprayed pic.twitter.com/YlnSi1E630
— Greg Krieg (@GregJKrieg) January 20, 2017
Protestor affected by tear gas @WTOP pic.twitter.com/Cae81JaMAF
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) January 20, 2017
Cops shoved my head against heavy camera, protesters throw eexplosives. Just got hit with mace grenade #DisruptJ20 #DeploraBall pic.twitter.com/2KSDzXJHYX
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) January 20, 2017
Wow, rough night.
Police push my head into heavy camera, protesters throw bike, explosives, signs and water balloons. Then I got hit by pepper spray grenade pic.twitter.com/ag6O5tm8L3
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) January 20, 2017
Just a note of caution: take with a grain of salt reports of tear gas and pepper spray and mace grenades being deployed by police … they might be true, or it might just be smoke canisters, but the press has gotten it wrong more than a few times. (Remember those “rubber bullets” found in Ferguson that looked very much like standard foam ear plugs? And that cop putting out a burning American flag at the RNC wasn’t extinguishing it with tear gas, geniuses.)
Smoke. People seem to be throwing signs and litter at the police. pic.twitter.com/8GcljoMYR7
— Matt Pearce ? (@mattdpearce) January 20, 2017
The image of mobs of street protesters throwing litter at the police really is a dose of nostalgia for the Obama administration, isn’t it? Maybe America can be done with this for a bit and try something else for a while?
Burning stuff. pic.twitter.com/5GqEOZaO3R
— Matt Pearce ? (@mattdpearce) January 20, 2017
A small fire was lit in the center of F street as protestors began playing music including the Beastie Boys "Sabotage" pic.twitter.com/uTejivYn6q
— Clarence Williams (@nu1wcf) January 20, 2017
PROTEST at #Deploraball, Washington DC, #AltRight ball. We are burning Trump hats, American flags. And, we are dancing!! #DisruptJ20 pic.twitter.com/pcZZMR9Cy3
— Lacy MacAuley (@lacymacauley) January 20, 2017
Hey kid, why’d you start that fire?
— Glenn (@GlennAndTonic) January 20, 2017
Nothing like a fire to bring the family together #DisruptJ20 #DeploraBall pic.twitter.com/yfV0YhJYaB
— Shay Horse (@HuntedHorse) January 20, 2017
Actually, you know what would have been better than a fire, since it’s a special occasion and all? A Zamboni. People can’t take their eyes off those things.
People leaving Deploraball have water bottles thrown at them and followed by people shouting "Nazi Scum." pic.twitter.com/x2SLvDeq8h
— Hailey Branson-Potts (@haileybranson) January 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/ellisonbarber/status/822264175925886977
If you’re setting your alarms to watch the inauguration Friday, you might want to tune early and not wait for hell to begin at noon — you’ll miss a lot of traditional pageantry overlaid with insipid commentary.
— Matt Pearce ? (@mattdpearce) January 20, 2017
Might want to make it an early night, seeing as your time here in Obama’s heaven is limited.
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Related:
Sad! Group scales back plan to block traffic into DC after Project Veritas releases undercover videos https://t.co/SmcVRMRvPB
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) January 18, 2017
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