Tonight rioters were out in front of the White House trying to tear down the Andrew Jackson statue in Lafayette Square:
Rioters are trying to tear down the Andrew Jackson statue in Lafayette Square in front of the White House.
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) June 23, 2020
But the Park Police showed up and were having none of it, firing pepper spray balls into the crowd to disperse them:
Police have arrived and are taking back Lafayette Square outside the White House. Chemical irritants are being used on protesters. It’s incredibly tense. pic.twitter.com/JsLc2ts6L4
— Ebony Bowden (@ebonybowden) June 23, 2020
DC Park Police took care of the “peaceful protesters” that were trying to pull down Andrew Jackson. pic.twitter.com/tZglvlYB3V
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 23, 2020
They failed. pic.twitter.com/YDgNTKMfso
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 23, 2020
Reporters were also ordered to leave the White House, no doubt out of concern for their safety:
CNN: Reporters told to leave the White House amid demonstrations in the area of Lafayette Square
— Patrick deHahn (@patrickdehahn) June 23, 2020
Here’s more from NBC 10:
Protests became tense Monday evening as police pushed demonstrators away from the statue of President Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square.
News4’s Shomari Stone reports some groups were calling to take down the statue and ropes could be seen hanging off of the sculpture of Jackson on a horse.
Police formed a barrier in front of the statue.
Video shows U.S. Park Police spraying some protesters with what appeared to be pepper spray to get them to move back.
Earlier in the evening, four D.C. police officers were hurt while trying to clear tents near Lafayette Square, police said.
A large group of demonstrators set up the tents along the 1400 block of H Street NW and some tents were blocking streets.
Some protesters threw objects at officers while they tried to remove the tents, police said.
Two people were arrested. Police have not identified them or said if they were charged.
The officers’ injuries were not serious, police said.
These ‘peaceful’ rioters in DC were also trying to set up an “autonomous zone” outside of the White House, but that wasn’t happening either:
Dozens of riot police are now taking back the “autonomous zone” outside the White House. pic.twitter.com/zWWJikwGWg
— Ebony Bowden (@ebonybowden) June 23, 2020
Maybe they can setup in Seattle, but it will not happen in DC thanks to many brave men and women who won’t tolerate this garbage. Nor will President Trump and AG Barr.