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Thousands of people joined outside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Friday in Washington D.C. on Friday evening to protest President Donald Trump's plans for the facility who has said he is contemplating demolishing the complex.
asserted
he → see → complex
The protesters lent their voices to a chorus of organizations and individuals who have been horrified that Trump might make good on his threat.
uncertain
Trump → lend → threat
The crowd streamed in from the nearest subway stop, crowding streets in the Foggy Bottom area of Washington and locking down traffic as they walked, many carrying signs, as they joined in 'Hands Around the Kennedy Center.'
At one point some held hands and formed a human chain around the center.
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some → stream → center
Chris Raleigh, co-founder of Hands Off the Arts, which set up the gathering, said in an interview that he hoped the event would show that people are willing to fight to keep Trump's plans for the building at bay.
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people → set → bay
One of the most iconic buildings on the Potomac River waterfront, the Kennedy Center has been a focus of Trump's remake of Washington since 2025, when he began installing favorites onto its governing board.
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he → begin → board
Late last year, he had his named placed on the center.
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named → have → center
A judge then ruled that Trump's name was illegally added and ordered it removed.
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it → rule → ?
The Kennedy Center board, which is aligned with the president, voted on Tuesday to close the center indefinitely for repairs hours after US District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked their plans to return Trump's name to the building.
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Cooper → align → building
Demonstrators hold up a banner as they rally against the closing of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday in Washington D.C.
Mary Dominiak, center, during the national anthem as she and others rally against the closing of the John F. Kennedy Center
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she → hold → Center
Drag Queen Tara Hoot hold up her signs as she rally against the closing of the Kennedy Center
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she → hold → Center
On Thursday, the judge ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days' notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including demolishing it.
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judge → order → it
Raleigh said he, like others, is concerned that Trump could take the step without notifying the court.
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Trump → say → court
'Look at the East Wing,' he said.
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he → look → Wing
'We got up one morning and there was a giant hole there.'
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We → get → ?
Raleigh said the Kennedy Center is more in the public eye than the East Wing was.
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Wing → say → eye
He added he doesn't believe the president fully understands why people are so upset 'but that's our job right?
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that → add → ?
This may be the line that no one expected but this is where the line is going to be.
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line → expect → that
'
Protesters talked about the importance of the center as the pinnacle of the nation's performing arts world.
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Protesters → talk → world
Bud Wilkinson, a local member of the arts community, set up a chalkboard with Trump's name written on it hundreds of times.
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Wilkinson → set → times
Protesters flocked to him to erase the names and replace them with hearts.
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Protesters → flock → hearts
Demonstrators held hands to form a human chain during a rally outside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
People rally against the closing of the Kennedy Center
Thousands of protesters descended on Washington on Friday amid fears the Kennedy Center could ultimately be demolished
Maria Powers rallies against the closing of the Kennedy Center
Demonstrators gathered to form a human chain around the building
'
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Demonstrators → hold → building
We need it.
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We → need → it
We need this,' Wilkinson said.
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Wilkinson → need → this
'This is not just about putting the president's name on the Kennedy Center.
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This → put → Center
It's about censoring the performances and the programming.
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It → censor → performances
That's what started all this.
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what → start → this
So I want to replace all of this with love.
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I → want → love
That's why there's a heart.'
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That → be → ?
Alina Baciu talked about the opportunities and relationships that students at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts have with the center and how those relationships might be impacted by what's going on.
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what → talk → center
Her daughter had numerous opportunities to take advantage of all the center had to offer as a student at Duke Ellington, she said.
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she → have → Ellington
'I mean, they borrowed the beautiful costumes and the beautiful dresses from the Washington National Opera for their performances at Duke Ellington,' she said.
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she → mean → Ellington
They also performed on the center's Millennium Stage.
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They → perform → Stage
'All of those things have gone away because of this craziness.
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All → go → craziness
And it just hurts my heart,' Baciu said.
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Baciu → hurt → heart
Laura Steinberg, a volunteer for the last 10 years, said the loss of performances has already been heart- wrenching.
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loss → say → performances
'This reminds me of that picture from Tiananmen Square, where that young man stood in front of the tank,' she said of the throngs present.
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man → remind → throngs
Cassandra Corcoran, Leslie Cook and other protestors hold hands as they denounce the Kennedy Center board's vote to close one of the nation's premier performing arts venues
People hold hands as they rally against the closing of the Kennedy Center
The demonstration capped a tumultuous week of court battles, closure announcements and uncertainty over the Kennedy Center's future
A demonstrator in a inflatable costume rallies against the closing
Supporters highlighted the Kennedy Center's longstanding relationships with young performers and local arts students
'
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Supporters → hold → performers
I'll stand in front of the wrecking ball if it's going to come to that.
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it → stand → that
My guess is many of these people would come down because we saw what he did to the East Wing.
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he → come → Wing
Nobody thought he would actually do it.
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he → think → it
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
