Thousands Protest Kennedy Center Closure and Demolition Threats

Thousands of demonstrators formed a human chain around the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Friday evening, protesting its recent closure and potential demolition by the Trump administration. The protest, organized by the group Hands Off the Arts, drew crowds to the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, where participants linked hands around the iconic building on the Potomac River waterfront. The demonstration followed a tumultuous week for the Kennedy Center. On Tuesday, the Trump-appointed board of trustees voted to close the center indefinitely for repairs expected to last up to two years. That vote came hours after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked the board's latest attempt to add President Trump's name to the building's facade. On Thursday, Judge Cooper ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days' written notice before undertaking any major physical changes, including demolition. The ruling came amid heightened speculation about the building's future after President Trump was photographed on Air Force One examining what appeared to be demolition plans.