Photo: Eric Charbonneau/REX/Shutterstock; Noam Galai/WireImage
With Pennsylvania Avenue as their stage and lit-up “TREASON” signs as props,Rosie O’Donnelland more than 55 Broadway stars fromHamilton, WickedandLes Miserablesled anti-Trumpprotestors in song in front of the White House on Monday night — firing up the crowd as the demonstrations reached their 22nd day.
The renowned musicians and singers arrived to Washington, D.C., from New York at around 7:30 p.m., wearing matching shirts that read: “Now showing TRUTH.”
O’Donnell kicked off the evening with a fiery speech.
“Let your voice be heard. Let the president know in no uncertain terms that we are alive, awake and we are woke. We are not going away,” she told protestors.
The Broadway crew, acoustic instruments in tow, carefully chose their presidential serenades — belting out “America the Beautiful,”The Wiz’s “Everybody Rejoice,”The Sound of Music‘s “Climb Every Mountain,”Lis Miserables‘ “Do You Hear The People Sing?” and ending withHAIR’s “Let the Sunshine In.”
When O’Donnell and her crew were not leading protestors in musical numbers, they listened to activists who took to the podium and joined in on chants like “Kids Need Parents,” referring to themigrant child crisisresulting from Trump’s immigration policy.
Less than an hour after arriving, the Broadway artists packed up to drive five hours back to New York City.
Adam Parkhomenko/Twitter
The White House did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Now on its 22nd day, the ongoing protest began with a single tweet as Trump was flying back to Washington, D.C., from his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin — a trip that had even normally pro-Trump allies crying foul.
That evening, hundreds of protestors gathered to “welcome” Trump home with pots, pans, air horns and whistles. In the weeks since that first tweet, the protest has developed into a musical movement seeking to oust Trump from the White House.
“Helsinki was the catalyst for launching this, but it’s always been about Donald Trump overall being unfit to be president,” Aravosis said.
“What’s exciting is that this started with sort of a tweet but has turned into what will hopefully be known as an area where people come to protest — whether it’s after dinner or whether they’re in town,” Parkhomenko said.
Parkhomenko and Aravosis are gearing up for another big night on Tuesday to celebrate the birthday of Robert Mueller, who is overseeing the Justice Department’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The co-organizers are promising a game of “pin the indictment on the traitor” and a large cake from Costco.
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WEEK ONE HIGHLIGHTS: Mariachi Band, Opera Singers, Michael Avenatti, Alyssa Milano and a Trump sighting
Protestors in front of the White House went to new levels to keep the jet-lagged president from sleeping after he touched down from Helsinki, trotting out an 18-person Mariachi band and opera singers belting out “America the Beautiful.”
Stormy Daniels’ attorney, Michael Avenatti, and actress and activist Alyssa Milano joined the crowd during the first week of nightly activism.
“I hope it brings renewed focus and significant attention on the need for the American people to know why President Trump is abandoning the nation in favor of Vladimir Putin,” Avenatti told PEOPLE last Tuesday.
Courtesy Philippe Reines and Ian Mellul
The week ended with protestors getting their first face-to-face interaction with the president, shouting “LOCK HIM UP!” as Trump and wife Melania arrived at the White House on Sunday, July 22nd.
WEEK TWO HIGHLIGHTS: A New Sound System, a Russian Translator, and Shark Night
“We translate things into Russian at the Kremlin Annex so Trump understands what protestors are saying,” Parkhomenko quipped in a tweet.
On a rainy Wednesday night, ten protestors showed up dressed in full-body shark costumes, holding signs that read: “THIS ALL SEEMS FISHY” and “We don’t bite but MUELLER does.”
WEEK THREE HIGHLIGHTS: A T-Rex, Electric Guitars and a Rainbow
Protestors showed up, rain or shine, as they passed the two-week mark outside of the White House. Some creative activists recalled Trump’s less-than-thrilled reaction to a trick-or-treater dressed like a T-Rex on Halloween and showed up on Pennsylvania Avenue in costume.
One protester held a sign that read, “I came here for the T-REX but I’m staying for the IMPEACHMENT!”
A rainbow also surprised protestors as they danced and rallied through week three.
Musicians playing violins and electric guitars also joined “Kremlin Annex” protestors during their third week.
The White House has faced criticism following Trump’s disastrous summit with Putin in Helsinki.
source: people.com
