Protesters and police clash in Lafayette Square after trying to tear down Andrew Jackson statue
Earlier today, protesters gathered in Lafayette Square outside the White House and attempted to tear down a statue of Andrew Jackson that was commissioned in 1847. Police on bicycles responded
Earlier today, protesters gathered in Lafayette Square outside the White House and attempted to tear down a statue of Andrew Jackson that was commissioned in 1847.
Police on bicycles responded to the scene and began quickly clearing the crowd away from the statue and began to use pepper spray to get the group out of Lafayette Square. The pepper spray also hit news reporters on the scene.
Protesters started calling for medics, and many members of the crowd could be seen rubbing their eyes after police confronted the protestors. At least one protester was seen being carried out of the park by other protesters.
NEW — Law enforcement apparently using PEPPER SPRAY on multiple protesters — medics helping people ALL around the White House protest zone #BlackLivesMatter @WUSA9 pic.twitter.com/FH75EbtZB6
— Mike Valerio (@MikevWUSA) June 23, 2020
Around 3 p.m., two men were arrested and cleared from a tent encampment that had formed on H Street near Black Lives Matter Plaza by MPD.
The encampment took place between 14th Street and 16th Street on H Street, and four officers were injured by objects that were through at them during the clearing.
Traffic in the area was impacted by the encampment and led officers to clear the area, according to MPD.
The clearing of the area was the first since June 1, when federal police officers cleared protesters from the streets before President Donald Trump walked from the White House to St. John’s Church.
Tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets were used on June 1, but D.C. Police have no reports of any weapons being used on Monday against those in the encampment.
Things have calmed down in the area of the encampment since officers cleared it around 3 p.m.
Protests have been seen for the last month in D.C. following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis after former police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on Floyd’s neck fro nearly nine minutes.
Most protests have been peaceful in D.C. aside from the first few days when vandalism, fires, and looting occurred in the evenings.
