Owner of limo set on fire during anti-Trump protests in Washington, DC amid inauguration speaks out

Updated

A burning limousine was one of the enduring images from the protests that sprung up in Washington, D.C., during President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Now, the head of the company that owned that limo is speaking out against the protestors' vandalism that could cost him tens of thousands of dollars.

Muhammad Ashraf owns Nationwide Chauffeured Services, which operated the limo that was set ablaze. He also happens to be a Muslim immigrant, a group anti-Trump protesters claimed to support.

Ashraf told BuzzFeed News the damage could set his business back between $70,000 and $100,000. He had already booked events for that limo before it was destroyed.

He said he was disappointed that some of the protesters ended up being destructive. He said, "They have all the right to go out and protest and have their voice heard, but destroying property does not do anything better."

Ashraf also said he and the driver received harassing phone calls from people who accused them of being Trump supporters. He declined to share his political views.

Another limousine company in Florida set up a GoFundMe page to help replace the vehicle. It has raised more than $14,000 of its $20,000 goal in its first three days.

The D.C. police department blamed the vandalism on an organized group of people and said many of its members had been arrested.

Trump promised to ban all Muslim immigrants from entering the U.S., though he later softened his stance to what he calls "extreme vetting."

SEE MORE: Journalists Face Felony Charges After Covering Inauguration Protests

Now, Trump is reportedly preparing to sign an order banning immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries like Iraq, Iran and Syria.

AOL contributed to this report

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