{"id":4702,"date":"2026-09-19T16:33:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T16:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=4702"},"modified":"2026-09-19T16:33:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T16:33:11","slug":"demonstrators-in-us-form-human-chain-to-protest-kennedy-center-closure-vote-donald-trump-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=4702","title":{"rendered":"Demonstrators in US form human chain to protest Kennedy Center closure vote | Donald Trump News"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>2 Minute, 55 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>


\n<\/p>\n

\n

The \u201cHands Around the Kennedy Center\u201d rally drew thousands after Trump-backed board votes to close the iconic arts venue.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\"\"<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Published On 19 Sep 2026<\/span>19 Sep 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Thousands of protesters formed a human chain around the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC to contest its closure, amid fears that United States President Donald Trump could make good on his threat<\/a> to demolish the venerated landmark.<\/p>\n

The crowd filled streets in the Foggy Bottom neighbourhood of the capital on Friday evening, bringing traffic to a standstill as demonstrators made their way to the \u201cHands Around the Kennedy Center\u201d protest. Many carried signs and some wore costumes, while boos rang out when Trump was mentioned during the programme.<\/p>\n

At one point, some protesters linked hands around the building, whose marble facade remained partly concealed by scaffolding and tarpaulins.<\/p>\n

Among the most iconic buildings on Washington\u2019s Potomac waterfront, the Kennedy Center has become a battleground over Trump\u2019s bid to assert control over the institution since he returned to office last year, replacing its board with his own appointees and installing himself as chairman.<\/p>\n

\"People
Protesters in Washington, DC denounce the Kennedy Center board\u2019s vote to close one of the nation\u2019s premier performing arts venues, September 18, 2026 [Leah Millis\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chris Raleigh, co-founder of Hands Off the Arts, which organised the rally, said in an interview with The Associated Press news agency that he hoped the turnout would show that people were prepared to push back against Trump\u2019s plans for the building.<\/p>\n

The demonstration comes just days after the Trump-installed board voted<\/a> to close the centre for repairs that are expected to last up to two years. That came hours after District Judge Christopher Cooper quashed the board\u2019s latest attempt to restore Trump\u2019s name to the building.<\/p>\n

Last December, the new board added<\/a> Trump\u2019s name to the building\u2019s facade after the Kennedy Center said its Board of Trustees had unanimously voted to rename the institution in his honour.<\/p>\n

A federal judge blocked those efforts in May, ruling that the board had exceeded its statutory authority by unilaterally renaming the Kennedy Center and adding Trump\u2019s name to its facade without congressional approval. Congress had designated the centre as a memorial to the late 35th US President John F Kennedy.<\/p>\n

In August, the board tried again to inscribe Trump\u2019s name on the building, this time with wording along the lines of \u201cThe John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump\u201d.<\/p>\n

The federal judge scotched the move in September, ruling that it violated his May injunction.<\/p>\n

\"People
Protesters outside the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in Washington after its board voted to close the venue. September 18, 2026 [Leah Millis\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Trump has since declined to rule out demolishing the building, while a federal judge on Thursday ordered<\/a> the Kennedy Center to give 30 days\u2019 notice before undertaking any major structural changes, including demolition.<\/p>\n

Speaking to reporters in North Carolina on Wednesday, Trump argued that his administration deserved recognition for rescuing the Kennedy Center and that without the repairs, the building risked falling into disrepair and ultimately being forced to shut down.<\/p>\n

Raleigh said he, like others, is concerned that Trump could move ahead without first notifying the court.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at the East Wing,\u201d he said. \u201cWe got up one morning and there was a giant hole there.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n \n
\n \n \"Happy\"\n <\/a>\n
\n Happy <\/div>\n
\n 0<\/span>\n \n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \"Sad\"\n <\/a>\n
\n Sad <\/div>\n
\n 0<\/span>\n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \"Excited\"\n <\/a>\n
\n Excited <\/div>\n
\n 0<\/span>\n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \"Sleepy\"\n <\/a>\n
\n Sleepy <\/div>\n
\n 0<\/span>\n \n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \"Angry\"\n <\/a>\n
Angry<\/div>\n
\n 0<\/span>\n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \"Surprise\"\n <\/a>\n
Surprise<\/div>\n
\n 0<\/span>\n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The \u201cHands Around the Kennedy Center\u201d rally drew thousands after Trump-backed board votes to close the iconic arts venue. Published On 19 Sep 202619 Sep 2026 Thousands of protesters formed a human chain around the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC to contest its closure, amid fears that United States President Donald…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-international-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t