Inauguration of Donald Trump: Protesters, police clash

WASHINGTON — Police and protesters clashed Friday morning as activists took to the streets in opposition to the inauguration of Donald Trump.

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In downtown Washington, police wearing bright yellow jackets confronted protesters wearing all black with what appeared to be pepper spray, The Associated Press reported. The activists carried signs denouncing capitalism and Trump.

Videos posted to social media showed protesters smashing the windows of nearby businesses and throwing trash cans into the street. About 100 protesters chanting, "Hands up, don't shoot" were cordoned off by police, according to the AP.

A helicopter hovered overhead.

"No KKK, no fascist USA, no Trump," activists chanted as they carried signs down 7th Street.

Police said a group was seen marching south in northwest Washington around 10:30 a.m. As they traveled, some protesters broke off from the group to vandalize nearby businesses.

"More specifically, the group damaged vehicles, destroyed the property of multiple businesses and ignited smaller, isolated fires while armed with crowbars (and) hammers," the Metropolitan Police Department said in a news release.

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Officers met protesters near the intersection of 12th and L streets, where they arrested several protesters on charges of rioting.

Pepper spray was used on the activists and two officers suffered minor injuries "from coordinated attacks by members of the group that were attempting to avoid arrest," according to police. Multiple police vehicles were also damaged.

At one point, authorities deployed tear gas canisters to disperse protesters gathered in Franklin Square, according to the Washington Post.

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