Thousands Protest Kennedy Center as Demolition Fears Grow
Thousands of people gathered at the Kennedy Center on Friday to protest its closure and rumored plans to demolish the historic institution. Is the center really going to be torn down, and what is fueling this concern? Read on for all of the details.
Protesters Converge at Kennedy Center to Speak Out Against Trump Takeover
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has been the center of a firestorm in recent months as President Donald Trump continues his quest to rename the facility in his honor. The discourse reached a fever pitch on Friday as thousands gathered at the venue to protest Trump's plans.
Located in the Foggy Bottom district of Washington, D.C., the Kennedy Center is one of the most well-recognized fixtures on the capital's skyline. Protesters converged on the building on Friday evening, blocking traffic and carrying signs as part of the "Hands Around the Kennedy Center" protest.
Many of the protesters wore costumes reflective of the many performances hosted at the venue since its opening in 1971. Event organizer Chris Raleigh, co-founder of Hands Off the Arts, said that he hoped the event would send the message that Americans are ready to fight Trump's plan to demolish the storied venue.
The marble facade of the building on the banks of the Potomac River remains hidden by scaffolding and tarpaulins. The center has come under fire from the Trump administration over the last year. The president first began making his mark on the institution when he installed a new governing board that has been friendly to his policies.
The controversy started in earnest when Trump used the support of the board to have his name placed on the facade of the center. The name was removed shortly after when a judge ruled that it was illegally added.
The Kennedy Center board voted on Tuesday to shut its doors indefinitely, citing the need to make repairs. The timing of the closure came just hours after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked the board's plans to install Trump's name back on the exterior of the building. Two days later, Judge Cooper then ordered the Kennedy Center to give 30 days' notice before beginning any major changes to the building. This includes notice before demolishing it.
What Sparked the Friday Protests
A picture taken of the president aboard Air Force One on Wednesday sparked Friday's protests in front of the center. AFP photographer Brendan Smialowski captured an image of Trump looking at a depiction of the center allegedly being demolished. The photo seen through the windows of the airplane shows Trump holding a placard with red text saying, “Kennedy Center DEMOLIS...”
The rest of the word was not visible as it was hidden by the window frame.
Raleigh said that his group is concerned that the president could proceed with demolishing the building without informing the court of their plans, pointing to what happened with the East Wing as evidence. “We got up one morning, and there was a giant hole there,” noted Raleigh.
Friday's protests were a clear act of retribution against the Trump administration. A man wearing a golden Trump mask with a crown atop his head held a sign that said, “Restore my name in gold you sycophants.” Another protester donned a blue hat that read “Make America intelligent again.”
A familiar scene unfolded in front of the center with several baby Trump balloons floating through the air. Chants of "hands off" rang through the protest. Other signs read "Hands off the arts," "Donny you are no JFK!," "Kennedy Center 4 ever," "Wicked starting DJT," and "Keep your tiny hands off our Kennedy Center."
The controversy over the Kennedy Center is just the tip of the iceberg of Trump's plans to revamp the landscape of the nation's capital. Several other cases made their way through the federal courts in Washington, D.C. over the last few days as the president continued to push his vanity projects. The White House is moving full speed ahead with its plans to reshape Washington, D.C.'s aesthetics despite the persistent litigation.
Trump recently addressed the subject of the Kennedy Center when speaking to reporters in the Oval Office. The center is facing financial difficulties, as many acts have pulled out of performances due to the Trump takeover. The president said that he was willing to make efforts to save the center even though he claims it is losing money.
“We have a lot of people working very hard on it to save it,” said Trump. “I can save it easily, but why should we be doing that and then raise money for the rest of our lives to keep it afloat? Because that’s what you have to do, if we get no recognition. I think the Trump administration should be recognized as having saved the Kennedy Center."
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