Washington DC— Hundreds of protesters gathered in Washington, D.C., for President Trump's swearing-in ceremony on Monday, with some braving frigid temperatures to protest what they believe will come under Trump's term. He spoke out against “territorialism” and “fascism,” he told Fox News Digital.
“I'm coming out because I oppose the country's slide towards fascism, war and genocide, and I think it's important to show that our people will continue to fight no matter what the attack. We know they're going to happen,'' said Gregory, who traveled from New Orleans to attend the We Fight Back rally at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C. told FOX News Digital.
“We know that things are going to get worse. We just have to keep fighting.”
Maxwell, who traveled from Baltimore to attend the inauguration protests, told Fox News Digital: “We're not going to walk away, but to speak out against the dangers of poverty and wealth inequality, misogyny and discrimination against LGBTQ people. I came here,” he said. The communities and immigrants that make up our people have a right to a voice, a right to support them at home, and a right to inspire others to end imperialism and colonialism and end American oppression. That's why we're here today. ”
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Anti-Trump protesters at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, DC (Fox News Digital)
Many of the protesters brought signs and props, including one man who rolled over a large replica of a guillotine, which he described as a “work of art” that was “open to interpretation.” he told Fox News Digital.
“I want people to know that they have the power to be heard, to express their anger, to send a message to those above us, to those who control us. We're here, we're powerful, and they're better, it's just a sculpture, but it's supposed to be a little scary.”
Under the guillotine was written, “Come and get the money.''
Mara, who identifies as transgender, told Fox News Digital that Trump is a “fascist.”
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Protesters gather at the “We Fight Back” protest on the day of President Donald Trump's inauguration at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. (Fox News Digital)
“It's important for me to be here. First of all, Donald Trump's far-right agenda is to label transgender people, among other things, as pedophiles and then to execute them,” Mara said. said. “So, as a transgender person, that's kind of alarming. On top of that, he's been told that he's been called a fascist, not just by people on the left, but by his own conservative generals.” So I'm here to say, “Fascism doesn't exist in our America.'' ”
Placards in the crowd read phrases such as “Socialism will defeat fascism” and “Fight Trump's policies.”
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Protesters gather at the “We Fight Back” protest on the day of President Donald Trump's inauguration at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. (Fox News Digital)
After the speeches, many of which included rallying cries for “the liberation of Palestine” and an end to Israel's “genocide” in Gaza, the group left the park and marched through local streets. did.
As the march began, counter-protesters appeared and several people engaged in a shouting match.
The protests against President Trump's inauguration have been far calmer than those that occurred at the beginning of Trump's first term and less violent than those eight years ago, when hundreds of protesters were arrested. It seems like it wasn't a thing.
Trump returned to the Oval Office on Monday as the 47th president of the United States, vowing to return the country to a “golden age.”
After taking the oath of office for the second time, Trump addressed the nation and called for a “revolution of common sense” in the words of his inaugural address.
“I return to office with confidence and optimism that we are at the beginning of a thrilling new era of national success. Waves of change are sweeping through our nation,” Trump said. “My message to the American people today is that it is time for us to act once again with the courage and vitality and vitality of the greatest civilization in history.”
Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman contributed to this report
