Hundreds of people formed a human chain around the Kennedy Center Friday evening in protest of its closing and threats by the Trump administration to demolish the memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
Hands Off the Arts said more than 1,000 people from 42 states and overseas RSVP’d for the event. The group regularly protests President Donald Trump’s takeover of the performing arts venue.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington performed at the venue Friday for the first time since its last performance scheduled for the performing arts center was canceled 16 months ago during World Pride. The chorus sang outside the building for the protesters, who stretched almost to the Watergate Hotel.
“And if you are going to come here to hurt us, to try to make us bend a knee, we will defend ourselves,” said Chris Raleigh of Hands Off the Arts.
Trump installed himself as chairman of the center last year after removing its previous leadership and replacing board members with his appointees. They abruptly voted this week to temporarily close the venue for repair and renovation after a judge ruled Trump’s name can’t be added to the building without Congress’ approval.
In June, Trump’s name was removed from the facade at the order of a judge. An elaborate tarp still covers the spot on the center, which has seen attendance nosedive since the takeover.
“I keep wondering how insecure, how narcissistic, how egomaniacal you have to be to say you’ll demolish a building if they don’t put your name on it,” U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., said at Friday’s protest.
In the Oval Office Friday afternoon, the president was asked whether he plans to demolish the Kennedy Center.
“I could have started this job seven months ago,” he said. “As you noticed, a big portion of the ceiling fell down two days ago. Almost killed a security guard. Missed him by — the place is a dump. It’s been a dump for years.”
“I think the Trump administration should be recognized for as having saved the Kennedy Center,” the president said.
The performing arts center, which has been operating with a skeleton staff, laid off about a dozen more employees Friday.
