Thousands Protest Closure of Kennedy Center After Board Vote
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Around 6,400 demonstrators formed a human chain outside the Kennedy Center on Sept. 18, protesting a board decision to shut the venue for two years and a judge's order to remove President Trump's name from the building.
Around 6,400 people gathered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 18, three days after the center's board, appointed by President Donald Trump, voted to close the venue for two years. The protest featured a partial human chain around the building's eastern and southern sides, though fenced sections prevented a complete circle.
Organizers from the Hands Off the Arts coalition said the demonstration aimed to protect the memorial to John F. Kennedy. Participants sang the National Anthem, performed a rendition of "America the Beautiful," and chanted about a tarp covering the center's name after a judge ordered the removal of Trump's name from the signage.
Speakers included actress Lynda Carter, U.S. Representatives Don Beyer and Jonathan Jackson, and D.C. Councilmember Robert White. > "The Kennedy Center will forever be the people's house," Jackson said.
President Trump defended his effort to have his name added to the building, describing the center as a "dump" that had lost money and stating he would fund repairs while seeking recognition for his administration.
Protesters expressed broader concerns about government control of cultural institutions, with some attendees saying they would continue to demonstrate whenever opportunities arise.