•• All photographs by C.S. Muncy ••
The press corp had staked out their seats early, using porch furniture and flimsy plastic chairs to claim space for the appearance of former president Donald J. Trump at the 100 Centre Street courthouse, in lower Manhattan. Some had camped out overnight, others arrived in fits and starts throughout the early morning. By the time the sun came up, haphazard lines had begun to grow — though with no official standing. Some formed up for access to the courtrooms, others for hallway access.
At the same time, protesters began to group together within their camps. In small groups at first, but slowly becoming larger and rowdier, the two sides were separated by lengths of metal barriers and shouting NYPD officers. For the most part, the two groups kept their distance from one another, but every now and then one or two would wander into the opposing camp, only to be shouted down or chased out.
When Marjorie Taylor Green appeared, the scene turned into a feeding frenzy of press and protesters alike. The barriers prevented too much movement, and what started as a scrum grew into a near stampede, as bodyguards ushered her to a waiting car.
At times the individuals from the two groups would interact, not knowing who was there for what reason. An anti-Trump protester dressed in a Trump mask and orange prison jumpsuit mugged it up for the cameras with a pro-Trump man wearing both a cowboy hat and the familiar red Trump baseball cap.
Movement anywhere near the courthouse was severely restricted, with both press and protesters forced to walk around the nearby park to get away from the scene.
While the indictment was read, anti-Trump protesters sang “Nah-nah-nah-nah, hey hey, hey, goodbye!” When Trump had earlier entered through the side entrance, he pumped a fist in a familiar gesture. However, when he left he was significantly more subdued, moving quickly through the police and Emergency Service Unit officers toward his town car before speeding off. ❖
C.S. Muncy is a photojournalist and writer based out of New York City who has worked with a wide range of publications, including The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Newsday, and the Village Voice.
