Demonstrators gathered around the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC on Friday evening to protest the institution’s impending closure and Trump administration plans for the building. The crowd, which organizers estimated in the thousands, filled streets in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood and formed a human chain around the structure. Participants carried signs and wore costumes while expressing opposition to Trump’s vision for the landmark.
The protest follows a board vote earlier in the week to close the Kennedy Center for repairs expected to span up to two years. Trump has taken control of the institution since returning to office, replacing its board with his appointees and installing himself as chairman. The administration has made multiple attempts to add Trump’s name to the building’s facade, efforts that have been repeatedly blocked by federal courts.
A federal judge ruled in May that the board lacked statutory authority to unilaterally rename the Kennedy Center without congressional approval, given that Congress designated it as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy. The board attempted again in August with revised wording, and the judge blocked that effort in September. On Thursday, a federal judge ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days’ notice before undertaking major structural changes, including demolition.
Trump has declined to rule out demolishing the building, though he has argued his administration deserves credit for undertaking necessary repairs. Chris Raleigh, co-founder of Hands Off the Arts which organized the demonstration, expressed concern that the administration could proceed with structural work without notifying the court. The Kennedy Center, located on the Potomac waterfront, remains among Washington’s most iconic buildings.
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