Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
City Councilmembers & Others Resist Trump's Inauguration By Getting Arrested At Trump Tower
By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Jan 20, 2017
Modified Jan 20, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 32
By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Jan 20, 2017
Modified Jan 20, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Moments after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States, seven protesters, led by Councilmember Jumaane Williams, were arrested for obstructing traffic at the intersection of 5th Avenue and 56th Street outside of Trump Tower. Williams, sporting a knit cap and Bernie Sanders pin, was flanked by his tearful mother Patricia Williams, along with Councilmember Carlos Menchaca, State Senator Marisol Alcantara, and Kirsten John Foy of the National Action Network, all of whom were also arrested.
The planned act of civil disobedience followed a press conference at the same location, during which elected officials and community leaders offered thoughts on the theme of “resist from day one.”
“We want to make sure that folks are empowered to disrupt a system that is unjust,” Williams said. “We want to make sure we're out there in the streets in the spirit of Dr. King, that we are actively going to resist.”
Williams specifically touched on the danger of Trump’s Cabinet nominees, as well as his stated proposals to remove the Affordable Care Act; create a Muslim registry; build a border wall; and spread the practice of Stop, Question, and Frisk throughout the country. He noted that Trump lost the vote in his home town of New York City by upward of 1.5 million votes.
At one point, just prior to the arrest, a pro-Trump protester interrupted Williams's speech with chants of “Be a patriot!”
“This is the most patriotic thing we can be doing,” Williams responded.
Following the frenzy of arrests, a hundred or so gathered demonstrators verbally clashed with a handful of Trump supporters. “America has never been great for people of color,” said Lae Murphy, a Dominican immigrant who has lived in New York since the 1970s, to a man wearing a Make America Great Again hat. “Look what’s happening in North Dakota, look what the police department is doing here.”
“He won fair and square,” said Asa Lowe, a Brooklyn native. He added that the protests were becoming tedious and that “people are just jealous because a rich businessman is now running the country.”
Others in the crowd concentrated on uniting the two factions. Bill Johnson, a Staten Island native, said that he hoped to reach a common ground with his Trump-supporting neighbors—a “challenging goal,” to be sure, but one he’s invested many hours in since the election. Johnson’s biggest concern, he said, is that “we have pretty much been oblivious to the demands of democracy, meaning getting involved at the local level.”
If you’re looking for ways to get involved this weekend—through resistance, reconciliation, or philanthropic drinking—we’ve got a running list for you here.
Tagged
inauguration 2017
jumaane williams
protests
Trump Tower
original
Jake Offenhartz
Jake Offenhartz is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .