WASHINGTON — Thousands gathered Friday evening outside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to protest President Donald Trump’s controversial plans affecting the institution. The demonstration, named “Hands Around the Kennedy Center,” drew a large crowd from the nearby Foggy Bottom metro stop, with participants holding signs and forming a human chain around the building as a symbol of resistance.
The protest was organized by Hands Off the Arts, a group co-founded by Chris Raleigh, who expressed concern that Trump’s administration might move forward with intentions to close or significantly alter the Kennedy Center without proper public or legal oversight. “This may be the line that no one expected, but this is where the line is going to be,” Raleigh said, emphasizing the community's determination to oppose the president’s actions.
The Kennedy Center has been a significant part of President Trump’s efforts to reshape Washington’s cultural landmarks since 2025, including placing loyalists on its governing board. Last year, Trump had his name added ahead of President Kennedy’s on the building’s facade—a move later ruled illegal by a judge, who ordered the removal of Trump’s name.
The center’s board, which remains aligned with Trump, voted on Tuesday to close the facility indefinitely for repairs shortly after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked plans to reinstate Trump’s name on the building. On Thursday, Judge Cooper further mandated that the Kennedy Center must provide 30 days’ notice before implementing any major physical changes, including demolition.
Protesters voiced fears that the administration might circumvent the court’s orders. Raleigh compared the potential threat to the sudden removal of the White House’s East Wing, expressing concern that significant damage could be done without adequate warning.
Several demonstrators highlighted the Kennedy Center’s role as a cornerstone of the nation’s performing arts scene. Bud Wilkinson, an arts community member, set up a chalkboard covered with Trump’s name repeated multiple times. Attendees were invited to erase the names and replace them with hearts as a gesture opposing censorship and political interference. “This is not just about putting the president’s name on the Kennedy Center. It’s about censoring the performances and the programming. That’s what started all this,” Wilkinson said.
Alina Baciu, whose daughter attends the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, spoke about the impact of the controversy on student opportunities tied to the center. Baciu noted that students have collaborated with the Washington National Opera and performed on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage—experiences that she fears may be lost amid the uncertainty. “All of those things have gone away because of this craziness. And it just hurts my heart,” she said.
The protest underscored widespread apprehension within the arts community and the public over the future of a cultural institution that many consider integral to Washington’s identity.