Protesters have slowly gathered outside the Supreme Court ahead of Donald Trump’s historic immunity hearing.
Several anti-Trump activists held up signs reading “LOSER” and Trump is “TOXIC” hours before the brawl was set to begin.
The nine judges will determine whether the former president is protected from prosecution for actions he committed while president of the United States.
The court’s decision could have a monumental impact on presidential powers and a direct impact on Trump, who faces multiple criminal charges for his actions on January 6.
Anti-Trump protesters stood outside the courthouse early Thursday morning.
One man marched with a sign that read, “Lawlessness cannot govern our republic.” Another sign simply read “loser” in the similar red, white and blue look of the Trump signs.
Several anti-Trump activists held up signs reading “LOSER” and Trump is “TOXIC” hours before the brawl was set to begin
Diana Neary holds a sign with fellow protesters outside the Supreme Court on April 25 that reads ‘No one is above the law’
Diana Neary flew from Minneapolis, Minnesota on Wednesday to protest outside the Supreme Court on Thursday. It was the first time she did something like that. Her cousins from Denver also flew and met her in DC.
“I felt it was one of the most important decisions I had to make for my children and their children,” Neary said. “If they gave one person full immunity, that would be a big mistake.”
The first person waiting in line to hear arguments in the landmark case showed up Tuesday night and camped out on the sidewalk for two nights.
“I was here for the polls in Colorado, and I almost didn’t get in, I just got there, so I wanted to make sure I was first in line for this thing, so I got here extra early and slept on the concrete, and I don’t regret it,” said Johnny Palmadessa, 24, of Pennsylvania.
Palmadessa, a Biden voter, said he was tired of the delaying tactics and said that as a young American we “have to keep doing this.” If we want accountability, let’s do it.”
Egor Kisleyah, who lives in New York but is originally from Moscow, came to the “landmark” hearing because he is interested in law in general and is considering law school.
“The issue of this case is constitutional law – a very important question of whether we will actually have a democracy or an authoritarian type of regime,” Kisleyah said. “And there’s also the issue of separation of powers, which is also kind of at the heart of the Constitution.”
He said the case will be remembered for centuries to come. He has spent his time online reading other important Supreme Court cases and short stories.
Rick Hall, 54, traveled from Ohio on a business trip but wanted to hear arguments after also being in town for the Colorado ballot case, so he camped out overnight to be among the first in line.
The nine judges will determine whether the former president is protected from prosecution for his actions during his presidency
Trump immunity protests at SCOTUS
Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump meets with union workers in New York City on April 25
Maura McGonigel, 26, of Washington, D.C., was camping before 7 p.m. Wednesday evening and had several dozen people ahead of her. She said her friend wanted to do it, and she was ready.
“She was really excited about this unprecedented historic moment and I thought this would be a really cool opportunity as well,” McGonigel said.
Trump faces four criminal charges and is the first former president in US history to face criminal charges.
While the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the Washington case, Trump will appear in Manhattan criminal court on Thursday.
He is on trial on charges of falsifying company records for paying a porn star hush money to keep her quiet ahead of the 2016 election.