Hundreds Form Human Chain Around Kennedy Center in Protest of Trump’s Plans: ‘Hands Off’

A human chain of hundreds of protesters encircled the Kennedy Center on Friday, demonstrating opposition to President Donald Trump's proposed actions for the iconic venue. Footage obtained by C-SPAN showed the demonstrators linking arms and obstructing the entrance to the main building, which had unexpectedly shut down on Tuesday due to a board decision.

The protesters chanted "Keep your tiny hands off" and later shifted to the more direct demand of "Hands off!" The protest, titled "Hands Around the Kennedy Center" and coordinated by the advocacy group Hands Off the Arts, occurred in response to Trump's threats to demolish the historic institution named after former President John F. Kennedy Jr. The president's threats followed a federal judge's ruling that blocked his latest attempt to name the center after himself, leading the Trump-appointed board to close the venue due to structural safety concerns.

Despite a federal judge's order for the Trump administration to provide at least 30 days' notice before making any changes to the center, Trump maintained his stance, referring to the venue as "a dump" and promising to "fix" it if given the chance. However, a spokesperson for the Kennedy Center denied that demolition was being considered, emphasizing that "nothing is being demolished" and that the media had misconstrued the situation.

The closure and potential demolition of the Kennedy Center have sparked widespread criticism, with Kerry Kennedy, sister of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., deeming the decision a "tragedy."