Trump comes to Baltimore

Donald Trump came to Baltimore. So I went out and took pictures.

A group of #NeverTrump protestors meet on the corner. Locals cheer and honk. When I asked who they were with, they laughed. “We’re just friends who don’t think Trump should ever be president”

A Trump supporter comes out to argue. “Trump’s not a racist!” (Though nobody actually said that here).

Not a single cop out. Only the second time I’ve ever seen that at a protest. Just the Francis Scott Key flags waving.

A line of illegally placed Trump signs dot the median on Conway st. #NeverTrump

In a parking lot behind the convention center, a man who declined to be photographed wearing a #FeelTheBern shirt loads Trump shirts into a wagon.

I asked why.

He says “I feel the Bern, but I’ll take their money! Trump’s not gonna win anyway.”

I got a photo of him later (with permission).

The cops begin to set up barricades.

Trump supporting military personnel and a Black woman with her daughter cross the street, going in opposite directions.

The #NeverTrump crowd grows. At least 7 different groups show up, ranging from Green Party candidates, to Democrats, to #BlackLivesMatter advocates.

A couple of dump trucks from Edwards Trucking grind to a halt blocking traffic in the middle of the street between the protests.

A Trump supporter runs up and hands the lead driver 20$.

After being notified, the police confront the man who paid the money and chastise him. The man in the hat appeared to be a lead organizer for the Trump supporters/

The crowd grows even bigger as the trucks roll off.

A man shouting “Vote Trump” and “Make America Great Again” rides up and spits on the protestors. The protestors spit back and the man jumps off his bike to fight.

The police demand the protestors step back. “We WERE back!” They shout.

The man on the bike gets led away, undetained.

The crowd tears up his “Make America Great Again” poster, and then pick up the pieces and throw them out.

One of the cops talks to an organizer: “I have to remain neutral! When I take off the uniform it’s a different matter.”

“How can we trust you when your uniform kills us daily?” the protestors counter.

On the Trump side, the supporters are largely quiet, waving flags and signs at passing cars. Both sides have groups of people who do their best to keep the groups separated.

A #Rump2016 truck rolls up to hand out signs. The police ask him to leave, and he does, but not before handing out a dozen signs. He continues to circle the block, driving slowly in front of the Trump supporters.

Employees at the Bank Of America building use their lunch break to check out what’s happening. The #NeverTrump protestors call out to them: “We know some of you are with us!” Some of the workers smile and wave.

Though nothing but an unobstructed crosswalk separates the two groups, people mostly stay on their sides.

A young man holding a #BlackLivesMatter sign wears a shirt reading “NO ALLEGIANCE TO WHITE SUPREMACY”

I find the man I met earlier who had the #FeelTheBern shirt on. “You can take a picture of me now!” he shouts.

Side note: my friend Peggy noted that the vendors might actually be employed by Trump himself, which has been the case at some other rallies.

Comically, the only food truck that shows up for people to eat today is Shareef House of Wraps, and parks on the Trump supporter’s side. A few begrudgingly order wraps.

A man walks to and fro among the Trump supporters with a sign reading “Hey Dummy, ¡Chinga Tu Pelo!” (Fuck Your Hair). Trump supporters stare at him confused.

A teenager walks through the Trump crowd shouting loudly “Why’d he even COME here?!” In the background, his friend doubles over in laughter.

Jason Chesnut comes out, with a #BlackLivesMatter shirt and a sign reading “(YET ANOTHER) CHRISTIAN AGAINST TRUMP”

WEAA Radio host Sean Yoes. He organized a good portion of the protest, putting out the call on Facebook to his sizable following.

The #NeverTrump protestors cross over onto the sidewalk, occupying the fountain in front of the Bank Of America building.

Someone throws a bright blue dildo into the Trump crowd. Tensions immediately flare, and then laughter breaks out from both sides. Trump supporters and protestors alike run over to take pictures of it.

Photographer Shae comes out, with either her camera or her fist raised.

One man walks around with the flag of Israel. Trump supporters cheer. Protestors laugh. Eventually a Trump supporter comes up to him and says something in his ear, and he balls it up and stuffs it in his pocket.

One guy gets really angry for being filmed by a white reporter standing next to me, and starts shouting. He then turns to me and shouts “FUCK YOU, FUCKIN NIGGER!”

A Trump supporter comes over to the protestor side to film. “Heeha, this is fuggin GREAT!” he laughs.

Lori McPherson, a pastor, comes out with a sign “CHRISTIAN AGAINST TRUMP”.

As the Trump supporters become more rowdy, cops form a line blocking them on their side too.

The amazing photographer Shannon Wallace gives the iciest side eye to a Trump supporter who attempts to hug her.

Poet Kondwani Fidel filters through the crowd. “I’m just out here to show support” he says.

Theology student Shaivaughn Crawley is out too. “I just can’t believe all this” he says.

Kondwani takes the mic, and the words just flow. The crowd goes silent and turns away from the Trump supporters just to listen.

Reconciliation activist J.C. Faulk meets with #TyroneWest’s sister Tawanda Jones.

Over on the Trump side, a lady in a Make America Great Again hat laments: “I’m worried he’ll never come back to Baltimore!”

Writing is new for me. If you want to support this and other creative ventures, you can send some encouragement here:

Benjamin Jancewicz is creating Vector Art | Patreon