iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Violence flared on some streets of Washington, D.C, Friday as at least some members of a group dressed head to toe in black allegedly smashed the windows of cars and store windows shortly before Donald Trump took the oath of office.
The city’s Metropolitan Police Department said it made numerous arrests following the alleged vandalism.
Police said an organized group marched through the northwest part of the city at around 10:30 a.m., and that “members of the group acting in a concerted effort engaged in acts of vandalism and several instances of destruction of property.”
The police statement said the group damaged vehicles, destroyed the property of multiple businesses, and ignited smaller isolated fires” and that police vehicles were among those damaged.
Police said they responded using pepper spray and other control devices.
Dramatic video published on social media, showed men and women using signs and sticks to shatter glass at a Starbucks and Bank of America.
Chaos then swept the streets as police attempted to chase down the alleged vandals.
The #DisruptJ20 coalition, named after the date of the inauguration, which had promised that its participants would attempt to shut down the inauguration events, tangled with Bikers for Trump, a group clad in leather biker gear that backs the president.
Video on social media showed the two groups exchanging words and blows just prior to the start of inauguration festivities.
At the inauguration ceremony itself, protesters could be seen being removed from the premises.
Thousands of protesters fanned out across downtown Washington, D.C., in the morning, including some who tried to block security checkpoints to the inauguration festivities.
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