At the moment Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on the Capitol steps on Friday, protesters along on the National Mall let loose with boos, others screamed, "Not my president!"
And the clouds opened, rain poured down and those Trump supporters and Washington dignitaries sitting in witness to Trump's oath of office grabbed for their plastic ponchos.
Even as Trump spoke in his inaugural address of "one nation," a woman carrying a large pink sign ran up to the massive inaugural podium on the Capitol steps and yelled, "Donald Trump is an illegitimate president!" She was quickly grabbed by security and rushed away.
Other attendees roared, "TRUMP, TRUMP, TRUMP" during Trump's oath-taking to drown out the sounds of protest.
Meanwhile, thousands of others staged unbridled public protests against Trump in and around Washington, D.C., before, during and after he took his oath of office.
Reuters reported that some protests in Washington turned violent ahead of Trump's inauguration. About 500 anti-Trump activists marched through the downtown area, some smashing store and car windows, hurling trash cans into the streets, and fighting with police in riot gear-who, in turn, unleashed pepper spray and stun grenades.
Some protesters wore masks and kerchiefs over their faces and carried signs, including one that read, "Make racists afraid again."
Others took part in peaceful protests, including 35-year-old Jessica Reznicek, a Catholic aid worker from Des Moines, Iowa. She told Reuters: "The message I want to send is that Trump does not represent this country. He represents the corporate interests."
Ahead of Friday, tens of thousands were expected in the city, according to NBC News. On Tuesday, the National Park Service told NBC that 22 permits for First Amendment events on park service land had been provided. This land includes both the White House and the National Mall.
These registered groups range in size from 50 people to 200,000 participants. Only protests over 25 people must have a permit, though.
Mike Litterst, a public affairs officer of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, further told NBC that in years past, only around six applications for protest permits were received for inauguration weeks.
Announced inauguration day protests included an Act Now to Stop War & End Racism Coalition #InauguratetheResistance mass protest at the Navy Memorial, which started at 7 a.m.
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