USA17 September, 20262 min read
Thousands Form Human Chain Around Kennedy Center After Trump Threatens Closure And Demolition
Hundreds formed a human chain around the Kennedy Center to protest demolition threats. Protests targeted Trump's bid to close and demolish the center and demand removal as chairman.
Human chain at Kennedy Center
Thousands of protesters formed a human chain around the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC on Friday evening, contesting President Donald Trump’s threats to close and demolish the venue.
In Washington’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood, the crowd filled streets and brought traffic to a standstill as demonstrators made their way to the “Hands Around the Kennedy Center” protest.
Chris Raleigh, co-founder of Hands Off the Arts, told The Associated Press that he hoped the turnout would show that people were prepared to push back against Trump’s plans for the building.
The rally came after the Trump-installed board voted to close the center for repairs expected to last up to two years, and after District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days’ notice before any major physical changes, including demolition.
Court limits and direct threats
ABC News reported that a federal judge ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days' notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including demolishing it, after lawyers for Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty cited Trump’s warning that the center could be "ripped down."
Trump had told reporters earlier this week that the Kennedy Center could be "ripped down" if his administration does not receive recognition, saying, "It'll end up being ripped down."
Al Jazeera described how the crowd linked hands around the building whose marble facade remained partly concealed by scaffolding and tarpaulins as boos rang out when Trump was mentioned during programme activities.
The dispute has centered on Trump’s bid to assert control over the institution since he returned to office last year, replacing its board with his own appointees and installing himself as chairman.
What protesters fear next
Protesters said the Kennedy Center is vital to the arts in Washington and that Trump’s actions threaten performances and programming, with Bud Wilkinson telling the crowd, "We need it. We need this," and adding, "This is not just about putting the president’s name on the Kennedy Center."
“‘We need it. We need this,’ Wilkinson said.”
Al Jazeera reported that the demonstration came as fears grew that Trump could move ahead without first notifying the court, after a judge quashed the board’s latest attempt to restore Trump’s name to the building.
The AP described how protesters talked about the center’s importance as the pinnacle of the nation’s performing arts world, while Bud Wilkinson offered protesters a way to erase the President’s name and replace it with hearts.
In the background of the protests, the Kennedy Center board voted Tuesday to close the center indefinitely for repairs hours after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked plans to return Trump’s name to the building, and on Thursday the judge ordered 30 days’ notice before any major structural changes.