January 23, 2017 • Vol. 58, No. 16
NEWS Trump inauguration • 2
SPORTS Pressbox • 6
SPECTRUM Sam’s Take • 9
OPINION Farewell, Obamas • 13
Richmond protests President Trump post-inauguration
AMELIA HEYMANN & MAURA MAZUROWSKI Contributing Writer & Online News Editor More than 100 demonstrators marched through Richmond on Friday evening to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. DISRUPTJ20RVA, a social movement group, organized the event. “Join local activists as we demonstrate that we won’t tolerate the white supremacist agenda of the incoming administration,” organizers wrote in a description on a
Facebook event page. “The Trump presidency will exacerbate city and statewide struggles by undoing the hard work of countless community members.” Unlike some other anti-Trump protests, Friday’s demonstrators in Richmond were peaceful. There were no violent interactions, destruction of property, attempts to block highway traffic or arrests. (However, as a CNS reporter was recording a video of the demonstrators, one of them grabbed the journalist’s phone and threw it off a bridge. The reporter managed to retrieve it thanks to the help of two other protesters.) DISRUPTJ20RVA held a brief rally at Abner Clay Park in Jackson Ward. At about 6:45 p.m., the protest-
D.C. INAUGURAL COVERAGE BELOW
ers made their way to Broad Street led by a sign reading “Resistance starts here.” Participants spilled down Broad Street, turned north onto Lombardy Street and circled the roundabout at Admiral Street and Brook Road. Protesters chanted “Black Lives Matter”, “F*ck Pence”, “Whose streets? Our streets!” and other slogans. According to DISRUPT20RVA activists, the march in Richmond was one of many across the country protesting Trump and his incoming administration’s policies. The group vowed “a series of massive direct actions that will shut down the Inauguration ceremonies and any related celebrations.” —continued on page 4
DISRUPTJ20RVA, a social movement group, organized the demonstration the night of President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The rally began at Abner Clay Park in Jackson Ward.
In step with the Women’s March
Live from the District: the innaugration of President Trump
D.C. WOMEN’S MARCH COVERAGE ON PAGE 2
PHOTO BY JESSE ADCOCK
JESSE ADCOCK Enterprise Editor
Demonstrators gathered at the Lee Monument last Saturday to support the upcoming Women’s March in Washington D.C. the next week. Brinson, a retired Virginia Commonwealth UniFor others, this was another march in a decadesJESSE ADCOCK versity faculty member, said she been involved with long fight. Enterprise Editor the center for more than 30 years. “I used to march a lot in Washington,” said “We do youth projects that teach conflict resoluSherry Baxter of Richmond. “I marched in ’87, in More than 1,000 protesters gathered at the Lee tion, racial justice and international affairs,” Brinson Roe v. Wade and in 2000.” Statue on Monument Avenue last Saturday and said. “We are trying to educate people so they can Baxter said her child was taken from her in the marched to Boulevard in solidarity with the next speak out the best way they know how.” ’80s because she was a lesbian, and that’s when she week’s Women’s March on Washington protesting For some, the presidential election was a galvabegan marching for civil rights. Unable to find other Donald Trump’s inauguration as president. nizing call to action, inspiring citizens to protest for mothers in the same situation, she said she first State officials and local activists gave speeches the first time. marched with gay fathers who had lost their children before and after the march, urging more public “I’ve never been really political before,” said Richunder similar circumstances. participation in politics and activism to counter the mond resident Renee Ramos. “I’ve never marched in The parade also played host to large puppet Trump administration. anything before.” displays and a baton-twirling stilt walker dressed as “We will fight like we’ve never fought before Ramos said that from Trump’s policies to his Uncle Sam. to make sure all people are treated with love and behavior on the national stage, she had to do some“I walk on stilts because it’s something you can’t respect,” Democratic state Sen. Jennifer McClellan ignore,” said Marcus Fioravante. “People are deaf to of Richmond told the crowd. “We are strong because thing to protest his incoming administration. “This is my first protest,” said Joy Whitenack of most signs and things. What art does to activism is of this beautiful mosaic of people.” Richmond. “We can’t just go out and vote anymore. beautiful.” Many nonprofit advocacy groups – including the It’s time to really support justice and equal rights for Building the stilts from found materials like disAmerican Civil Liberties Union, the Richmond everyone in the country.” carded wood, Fioravante said he’s been performing Health Brigade and the Richmond Peace Education She said the change in political dialogue and cliand drawing attention to causes and protests like the Center – had representatives at the event. mate over the last few years prompted her to protest. March on Monument for three years. “It’s a time where there’s a lot of uncertainty,” said “It was as great warm-up for next week,” Whit“It confuses the opposition,” said puppeteer Betsy Brinson, a board member for the Peace EduLily Lamberta, founder of All The Saints Theater cation Center. “There’s major peace issues involved at enack said, referring to the Women’s March on Washington, which organizers said had more than Company. “It brings a level of circus, color and all levels.” 500,000 attendees. —continued on page 4
At 6:30 a.m. the majority of those gathered on the open-air platform of the Franconia-Springfield Metro station wore red hats with white text: MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN It also came in the reverse permutation of red text on white canvas. This was far less common. Chris, my roommate, who left with me from Richmond at 4 a.m., stood over a grate blowing out hot air. It was something like 30 degrees out, but warming rapidly. “Be careful there, you don’t want to be too warm,” said a woman dressed all in white. “You ever hear about how hot water freezes faster?” Her cherry-red lips pout under ash-blonde hair. She carried no baggage with her, only a Dunkin’ Donuts thermos. It is Jan. 20 — Trump’s inauguration day. “Do you boys know how to get into the city from here?” the woman asks in a thick southern drawl. “L’Enfant Plaza is probably your best bet,” I say. “Depending on where you’re trying to go.” “As close as I can get.” The yellow rush-hour train hurtles toward us, brakes screeching. It overshoots the bulk of us waiting — in one solid mass everyone fast-walks down the platform toward the open Metro doors. The windows make the cars look vanilla-orange on the inside, like everything is coated in a fresh coat of Creamsicle. The inside is illuminated in cold and sanitary buzzing white light, like you find in public schools, emergency rooms and DMV offices. “This is the first time I’ve been in the city, you know, since I was in the service,” she says. Chris smiles and nods at her. I pretend my shoes need a good lookingover. “Of course, it was different back then. When I joined, only 10 percent of the force was allowed to be women at all. It was great. Stopped the men from seeing us as a threat to their jobs. I don’t know how all those men and women can work together today without worrying about something like that. Without the men getting jealous.” There are some babies on this train, and the screeching wheels and rocking carriage on the tracks do not agree with their sensibilities. Their wails are the only other thing to focus on. “He doesn’t feel safe,” one father says. “This is how babies learn. You have to make them cry a bit.” “I went all over the world,” the woman in white
—continued on page 2
PHOTO BY JULIE TRIPP
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