The historical record of this day is already well preserved, but here are my notes as it’s likely something I’ll be talking about for years to come, and I’d hate for the details to fade from my memory.
Friday, January 20, 2017, Inauguration Day for Donald Trump.
I took my normal route to work – I drove to Greenbelt Metro and parked. There were more spots available than usual, and getting downtown wasn’t a problem. Along the way I saw plenty of out-of-towners who were clearly headed to the Inauguration. Some were wearing “Make America Great Again” hats.
I normally get off at Mt. Vernon Square but that stop was closed, so I went to Gallery Place/Chinatown and walked from there to One Franklin Square. On the way, I grabbed a coffee at Starbucks on 13th and I, then went to my office.
About a half hour later, when I was safely inside, anarchists stormed through that same area I was just at.
UPDATE: I’m told no one was hurt at the Starbucks by the same workers who were there that day.
Protesters smash windows at Bank of America, Starbucks in Northwest D.C. on #InaugurationDay. (Video courtesy: @jclothiaux11) pic.twitter.com/1R9CC5fUaH
— WUSA9 (@wusa9) January 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/822469405699436544
Around 11, I wanted more coffee, so I headed toward the Starbucks at McPherson Square – the one I used to go to before The Washington Post moved to Franklin Square.
On the way, I saw the Hamilton Hotel had a window smashed, as did the Starbucks that I normally go to, which was already closed due to renovation.
On the way I met a photographer from another publication who also used to work in the area. When we arrived at the Starbucks, we found it was also closed. However, Ruth, a barista who we both knew, was gracious enough to get us coffee.
My office is right upstairs from Franklin Square and the Washington Post newsroom has a very clear view of it. Things started getting worse outside as we saw newspaper bins and trash cans thrown into the street. Jesse Jackson was walking around our newsroom for some reason.
Then the protesters started lighting fires.
Even a limo was vandalized:
UPDATE: “Owner of limo torched on Inauguration Day unsure if insurance will cover damages”
More photos of the scene right outside my office:
At one point, my boss, who is German, said the scene resembled Germany in the late 80s.
Then this happened:
By this time, the police had already pushed the crowd further away.
Note that all of this was happening right outside the window of Marty Baron’s office. I even saw him taking pictures.
Some dialogue that stood out to me during the day:
On one video, I overheard one of the protesters saying “Guys, we’re supposed to be peaceful!” This was while they were attacking a Trump supporter who was putting out a fire. In some TV coverage I was watching, one of the pundits said that the majority of the protesters were peaceful and it was just a small number who weren’t. That statement, to me at least, is completely irrelevant so long as I can smell the smoke and watch people actively being violent.
Security made everyone exit through the back of the building. I looked around the corner and saw protesters sitting in the street in front of cops, and smelled smoke of new fires in the street. There were so many barriers and police and protesters, I wasn’t sure how to get back to the Metro, so I had the opportunity to walk through the city.
Some of the folks I observed: People who clearly came from out of town, wearing Trump hats, shirts, and scarves. A few biker, or biker-type folks doing the same. Young angry protesters. Cops, guards and military soldiers. A large group of marching protesters, smelling of pot. Homeless people, oblivious to the politics behind these demonstrations, begging for spare change. Vendors selling Trump (and anti-Trump) hats, shirts and buttons. And of course, I saw quite a few couples in formal clothes heading to parties.
I finally found my way to Gallery Place, rode the train back to Greenbelt, went to the Starbucks on Cherry Hill Rd. by Rt. 1, got some tea, and showed wide-eyed baristas what they missed.