Massive anti-Trump protest at #DeploraBall in DC ahead of inauguration
Protesters outside the "Deploraball" have been hit with pepper spray grenades ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. RT America is on the scene in Washington, DC.
Police fired some sort of tear gas at demonstrators, according to RT's Alexander Rubinstein. The protesters are throwing things at officers, including posters, water balloons and even a bike at one point.
The whole block is filled with gas #DeploraBall#DisruptJ20pic.twitter.com/2KBN1FZbGc
— Alexander Rubinstein (@AlexR_DC) January 20, 2017
"There are explosions," Rubinstein said.
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
— Alexander Rubinstein (@AlexR_DC) January 20, 2017
Some people leaving the Deploraball, the pre-inaugural party to celebrate Trump's election, were targeted by protesters, who threw projectiles.
#DeploraBall attendees chased by #DisruptJ20 protesters pic.twitter.com/F9sPk80fHf
— Alexander Rubinstein (@AlexR_DC) January 20, 2017
A protester was also seen lighting a fire in the street.
#disruptj20 protestera set fire outside the #DeploraBallpic.twitter.com/WiEysz9nur
— Alexander Rubinstein (@AlexR_DC) January 20, 2017
Another fire was seen smoldering in a trash can. Plants along the street were also ripped out and thrown.
Trash can set on fire outside #DeploraBall#DisruptJ20pic.twitter.com/00jYBAvqLK
— Alexander Rubinstein (@AlexR_DC) January 20, 2017
More riot police with sheilds at the #DeploraBall#DisruptJ20 protest in DC pic.twitter.com/90nm0cWyiB
— Alexander Rubinstein (@AlexR_DC) January 20, 2017
A Deploraball attendee was beaten by protesters as shouts of "Bleed Nazi, bleed!" rang out. The man escaped through a line of police, who then sprayed pepper spray into the crowd.
#DeploraBall attendee beaten, cops whip out more pepper spray #DisruptJ20pic.twitter.com/y1sbvIWOZi
— Alexander Rubinstein (@AlexR_DC) January 20, 2017
Police sprayed protesters with an unconfirmed substance, possibly pepper spray or mace, at a high pressure.
#DeploraBall#disruptj20 …and here come the hoses! pic.twitter.com/e1aFPlvswT
— Ryan Vintage (@ryan_vintage) January 20, 2017
Anti-#Trump protesters arrive at National Press Club where the alt-right #Inauguration#DeploraBall is gathering #DisruptJ20pic.twitter.com/Et4lcjdNqf
— Alexander Rubinstein (@AlexR_DC) January 20, 2017
RT @GregJKrieg: Protests outside the #DeploraBall at Nat'l Press Club pic.twitter.com/ESVlTi8BeK
— heykim (@heykim) January 20, 2017
Anti-#Trump protest in DC outside the #DeploraBallhttps://t.co/0oguBgn3Eu
— RT America (@RT_America) January 20, 2017
The Deploraball is a pre-inaugural party to celebrate Trump's election. About a thousand so-called "deplorables" are expected to attend the event at the National Press Club. The name is in reference to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's remark that "you could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables."
.@SmythRadio on #Periscope: Protests at #deploraballhttps://t.co/jXCYXADHyv
— Ms. and so it goes (@and_so_it_goes) January 20, 2017