Anti-Trump Protesters Fill D.C. Street: 'No Trump,' Burning Hat, Few Clashes

WASHINGTON, DC — Thousands of supporters of President-elect Donald Trump filled the National Mall on Thursday evening to celebrate his inauguration, scheduled for Friday at noon. In response, hundreds of protesters filled the street in Washington, D.C., on Thursday night.

Chants included "No KKK, no fascist USA, no Trump" and "This is what Democracy looks like." Some protesters Thursday night claimed they had been pepper sprayed and police were outfitted in riot gear. But the protests were mostly peaceful, with few confrontations with police or Trump supporters.

"Nowhere on Earth is safe from a madman who is waving nuclear bombs around like they're playthings," said Noche Diaz of the Bronx, New York. "No place is safe. The whole world should reject Donald Trump and his whole regime."

Watch Live Stream: Trump Presidential Inauguration 2017

For complete coverage of politics and the Trump presidency, subscribe to the Washington, D.C., Patch newsletter.

One Trump supporter who had traveled from West Virginia for the inauguration came outside Thursday night to hear the protesters. "I want to hear everybody," he said. "I want to hear why they say 'No.'"

Protester Michelle Nungester traveled from Sarasota, Florida, and she had a message for Trump supporters. "They're in for a rude awakening," she said. "He has a long verified history of being a con man… he blows steam and says whatever he wants."

Protesters will be back out with marches and rallies in D.C. on Friday, and more than 100,000 are expected to march in the streets Saturday for a Women's March on Washington in response to the inauguration.

More videos and photos at the Washington DC Patch Facebook page.

One group of protesters Thursday night burned a "Make America Great Again" hat on the sidewalk.

A 16-year-old from Staten Island, New York, put out the fire with a friend's jacket. When protesters challenged him, another Trump supporter, Sheree Adams of Mississippi, defended him. "He was the brave one," she said.

Later in the evening, a larger fire was reported in the center of the street in the same area.

Reporting, videos and photos by Patrick Martin for Patch