Several thousand people gathered outside of Trump Tower on Monday night, waiting to greet President Donald Trump during his first visit back to the city since inauguration. It was anything but a warm welcome, however, as the crowd chanted “New York hates you!” and “Shame, shame, shame!”
Protesters gathered under Trump Tower, filling in the sidewalk for several blocks down Fifth Avenue. They were kept to the sidewalks with metal barricades, and their numbers swelled as the night wore on.
Trump was born in Queens and “made his name as a Manhattan real estate developer and tabloid fixture” writes The Washington Post, but many New Yorkers do not want to call him their own. New York is famously a liberal city, and protests have broken out across the city since November, including the night immediately following his election.
Anti-Trump protesters gather in Manhattan in New York, U.S., August 14, 2017. (Stephen Yang/Reuters)
REUTERS
Therefore, no matter what, his return to Trump Tower would be noticed. However, this weekend, white nationalist and protesters clashed in Charlottesville, leaving three dead and almost two dozen injured. Trump’s initial reaction, reports The Post, was to blame “many sides” for the violence that erupted, which upset liberals and conservatives alike.
He issued a stronger statement Monday night before returning to NYC, but many signs at the protest said “Too little, too late,” conveying that his new words had little impact.
Ultimately, the president did not face the crowds. His motorcade avoided Fifth Avenue and the protesters and he entered his residence without being seen by the crowd. People stayed until about 9:30 pm, when the crowds started to thin out.
Though many people were upset that the president did not face them, they still felt the demonstration was effective.
“If you’re silent, you’re part of hate speech,” said Carlos Laureano, who had moved to New York from Puerto Rico two years ago, told The Washington Post. “We can’t be silent.”
NYPD policemen stand guard as anti-Trump protesters gather in Manhattan in New York, U.S., August 14, 2017. (Stephen Yang/Reuters)
REUTERS
New York Police Department (NYPD) officers cordon off some thousands of anti-Trump activists who were staging a demonstration outside Trump Tower ahead of the arrival of U.S. President Donald Trump in Manhattan, New York, U.S., August 14, 2017. (Amr Alfiky//Reuters)
REUTERS
An inflatable rat in the likeness of U.S. President Donald Trump stands during a rally outside of Trump Tower in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Demonstrators hold signs and shout slogans during a rally outside of Trump Tower in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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A supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and a protester argue during a rally outside of Trump Tower in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Demonstrators hold signs during a rally outside of Trump Tower in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 14 , 2017. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Protesters gather near Trump Tower to demonstrate against US President Donald Trump August 14, 2017 in New York. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AFP/Getty Images)
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Demonstrators hold a “No War” banner and shout slogans during a rally outside of Trump Tower in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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A supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and a protester attend a rally outside of Trump Tower in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump wave American flags and banners during a rally outside of Trump Tower in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Demonstrators form a chain as others cross a road during a rally near Trump Tower in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Demonstrators hold signs during a rally outside of Trump Tower in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Protesters shout slogans and hold signs against President Donald Trump in front of Trump Tower ahead his first visit to the building since taking office, New York, Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. (Andres Kudacki/AP Photo)
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A demonstrator holds a sign during a rally outside of Trump Tower in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 14 , 2017. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Demonstrators hold signs and shout during a rally outside of Trump Tower in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 14 , 2017. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Demonstrators hold signs during a rally outside of Trump Tower in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 14 , 2017. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Bloomberg via Getty Images
Demonstrators hold signs and shout during a rally outside of Trump Tower in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 14 , 2017. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Protesters gather near Trump Tower in New York Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, as they protest against President Donald Trump. (Craig Ruttle/AP Photo)
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