By Joe Duffy
After President Trump passed an executive order denying migrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, thousands of people all over the country took to the streets — and airports — to make their disapproval known.
In Washington, D.C., protestors occupied areas outside the White House, Trump Hotel and the Capitol. They marched down Pennsylvania Avenue with their signs in the air.
Since the inauguration nine days ago, Washington, D.C. has seen large-scale protests, including the Women’s March on Washington, the Pro-Life March and the No Ban, No Wall protest.
As protesters left the gates surrounding the White House and headed en mass down Pennsylvania Avenue, very few who I tried speaking to seemed willing to stop marching and chanting their frustrations with the new administration. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
As the protest drew further down Pennsylvania Avenue, more and more protesters eyes began to be caught by the golden letters and American flags covering 1100 Pennsylvania Ave NW. A few years back this building would be known as the Old Post Office Building. Today: The Trump International Hotel. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
Outside the Trump International Hotel, a man identifying himself as an immigrant holds a sign asking if his status scares onlookers while talking to a woman in the crowd. Her expression implies that he does not. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
Within this photograph are a few succinct reminders of why so many gathered today around the country. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
Early in the day, the security barrier surrounding the Trump International Hotel was nothing more than a few waist-high metal gates and a few staff members. Protesters quickly deemed these as inadequate deterrents, and pushed the gates aside to access the hotel’s stairs. Many of these protesters sat peacefully on the stairs for the remainder of the day, even after more security was dispatched. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
From behind what was once the security barriers surrounding the Trump International Hotel, it was incredibly evident why the hotel staff made no efforts to deter the protesters from pushing past the barricades. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
An unnamed protester who I could unfortunately speak to only briefly. His jacket and it’s accessories however suggesting a deep love for the natural beauty of America’s national parks, and a disdain with new policies. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
From behind the now defunct security barrier surrounding the Trump International Hotel, protesters stood both defiantly and proudly. From inside the hotel, staff members looked on at what has undoubtedly become a regular part of their reality. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
Much like at the “Woman’s March on Washington” the previous week; the women of the crowd remained a dominant, passionate, and powerful force, not to be reckoned with. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
A child (whose name will not be published at the request of his mother) proudly holds a sign that he made by himself for the protest. Oddly one of the more civil signs featured all day. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
As the day moved on, so did the attention of many protesters from the spectacle outside the Trump International Hotel. Perhaps for the best, as today was not about Donald Trump, but instead about decency towards prospective American citizens, and basic human rights. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
As more protesters gathered outside the Trump International Hotel, many participants wishing to stay for longer without fear of being harassed by security took to sitting-in, while of course continuing to chant. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
Of all the beliefs held in common by the protesters surrounding the Trump International Hotel, Black Lives Matter and the condemnation of “alternative facts” held strong. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
While the nature of the newly-implemented security barricade prevented anybody new from gaining access to the stairs of the Trump International Hotel, no attempt was made to remove the protesters who had firmly situated themselves there already. Thus giving them the perfect high ground to address the massive crowd. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
A striking and empowering source of pride for protesters was the inclusion of an incredibly diverse group of supporters from an astounding range of walks of life. Throughout the crowd, protesters spanned across a massive spectrum of typical racial and age divides. Today, all standing in unity and solidarity. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
Throughout all of the events of the protests in DC, it was never for a moment not apparent that the new policies deemed unfair and unjust by protesters, while meant to strengthen racial divides, would in fact insight in their hearts the opposite sentiment. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
From behind the growing security barrier surrounding the Trump International Hotel, an amass of mostly stone-faced police officers and security guards faced the massive crowd of protesters. All of them held the line without exception, but not all of them were sympathetic to the hotel’s employers. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
By the time this photos was taken, a line of security had surrounded the Trump International Hotel to keep protesters back, but not before many had peacefully situated themselves behind the security barrier. With an iron will to stay, and no desire by security to forcibly act against peaceful protesters, there they stayed for the remainder of the afternoon. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
Among the rhetoric and the chanting of the march, it would prove difficult to find anyone at all advocating for anything but peace. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
At the edge of the security barrier was displayed the one bit of graffiti left by the protesters. Weather this was written before the barricade was formed, or by somebody testing the will of the DC Metropolitan Police; I do not know. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
Featured Photo Credit: While the nature of the newly-implemented security barricade prevented anybody new from gaining access to the stairs of the Trump International Hotel, no attempt was made to remove the protesters who had firmly situated themselves there already. Thus giving them the perfect high ground to address the massive crowd. (Joe Duffy/Bloc Photographer)
Joe Duffy can be reached at jrduffy5994@gmail.com.
