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Amid Protest, Trump Sworn in as 45th President of the United States

HeadlineJan 23, 2017

Saturday’s historic mobilization came one day after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. During New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer’s speech at the inauguration, some in the audience booed as he spoke about being inclusive of all races, religions, gender identities and sexual orientations. Minutes later, Chief Justice John Roberts swore Trump into the office of the presidency, sparking outcries from some in the crowd.

Chief Justice John Roberts: “Please raise your right hand and repeat after me: I, Donald John Trump, do solemnly swear…”

President-elect Donald Trump: “I, Donald John Trump…”

Protesters: “Unfit, not legit! Unfit, not legit! Go to hell! Go to hell! Go to hell! Go to hell!”

Coordinated actions in Washington, D.C., also shut down multiple checkpoints to block people from attending Trump’s inauguration. This is Democracy Now!’s Carla Wills, reporting live from a Black Lives Matter action where activists locked down in order to block off the checkpoint.

Janaya Khan: “My name is Janaya Khan, and I represent the Movement for Black Lives, hailing from Toronto, but in California.”

Carla Wills: “And describe the scene here right now.”

Janaya Khan: “What we’re seeing is people actively voicing their dissent in light of a horrible truth—that is, Donald Trump. He has used racism, bigotry, suggested a Muslim registry. He’s used Islamophobia. He has used and enacted every system of oppression in order to gain power. And this is 2017. He is an illegitimate president, and we do not respect him as such.”

Police deployed pepper spray, tear gas and concussion grenades as they chased crowds of demonstrators during some of Friday’s protests. More than 200 people were arrested—the majority of whom were charged with felony riot. After being sworn in, Trump gave an inaugural address in which he offered an extreme vision for the future of the United States.

President Donald Trump: “January 20th, 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer. Everyone is listening to you now. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.”

The Washington Post reports the address included 24 words never before uttered in any U.S. inaugural address, including the words “carnage,” “bleed,” “stolen,” “trapped,” “disrepair” and “sad.” Trump took the office of the presidency with a 32 percent approval rating, the lowest approval rating of any incoming president in recent U.S. history.

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