A reporter for NBC4 said protesters also set off smoke devices, contributing to the atmosphere of chaos ahead of Friday’s ceremonies. 

Police spokesman Hugh Carew said he could not confirm whether officers had used tear gas.

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A Hill reporter on the scene said people were dancing with music blaring amid the large police presence. The group was projecting images onto buildings, yelling “f— Trump” and taking photos with a large inflatable elephant with “racist” written on it.

At one point, protesters set a small fire, according to social media reports. 

The Metropolitan Police Department told The Hill on Friday that it only made one arrest related to the inaugural activities.

“The Metropolitan Police Department announced an arrest has been made in a Conspiracy to Commit an Assault offense that occurred in the 500 block of 14^th Street, Northwest.  After a thorough investigation, it was determined that several individuals made plans to disrupt inauguration activities in an unlawful way,” the department said in a statement.

The group Refuse Fascism organized the protest outside of the DeploraBall, the Los Angeles Times reported, an event that gathered many of the white nationalist “alt-right” movement to celebrate the inauguration.