Washington DC — The briefly peaceful protests have descended into chaos as demonstrators turn on local businesses and began smashing windows and destroying private property.

To protest their discontent with Donald Trump, some people have taken to destroying the property of innocent business owners. While it is certainly a noble cause to protest one’s disapproval of the President-elect when justified, smashing things does nothing to get across one’s point.

Someone wrecked the glass here near Franklin Square pic.twitter.com/8rKqWKxBJl — Gideon Resnick (@GideonResnick) January 20, 2017







Now, the peaceful protesters who set out to make a valid point are grouped in with the ones destroying property and all validity and credibility of their cause is now shattered.

Some 500 protesters were seen running through downtown Washington, with some breaking out and destroying property along the way. Naturally, this provoked a police state response and riot police are now going after ALL the protesters, not just the ones causing damage.

People inside Starbucks at the anarchist smashed the window of pic.twitter.com/IRuwEZ0TuE — Lee Stranahan (@stranahan) January 20, 2017







There have been several reports of journalists being detained and arrested as well. RT’s Alexander Rubinstein reported being hit with a flash grenade before he was arrested, along with others, while covering the protests.

As the inauguration officially gets underway, DC is in utter chaos as riot cops deploy tear gas and kettle protesters.