Flash-bangs & tear gas in Washington DC as crowds of protesters descend on White House (VIDEOS)
Tensions are running high in Washington DC, where crowds of anti-police-brutality protesters have converged on the White House once again. Sporadic clashes are taking place amid a heavy police presence in the area.
DC police and Security Service agents established a wider perimeter outside the White House on Sunday compared to Saturday. Protesters demanded to be allowed to march.
The street is blocked by police at H and 15th, protestors are chanting “let us march” Flash bangs continue to go off. #GeorgeFloydProtests#protests2020@wusa9pic.twitter.com/8pc9D5pIaG
— Kolbie Satterfield (@KolbieReports) May 31, 2020
Lots of flash bangs coming from 15th and H by the White House @wusa9pic.twitter.com/wO6xLdDoOU
— Kolbie Satterfield (@KolbieReports) May 31, 2020
Loud noises seemingly caused by the police's use of flash-bangs could be heard in the wider area around the White House complex.
Scene near Opaline near White House. We hear explosions (tear gas?). At least one protester was stomping on top the police car before law enforcement arrived. @wusa9#GeorgeFloydProtestspic.twitter.com/z88VMTOYh2
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) May 31, 2020
Closer to the focus of US executive power, police used shields and pepper spray to keep protesters outside.
Police in front of White House pepper spray protestors #WhiteHouseProtestspic.twitter.com/3frA4CwkMT
— Ghostface Skillet (@SollyWater) May 31, 2020
On Saturday, protests outside the White House turned violent on several occasions. DC police arrested 17 people. Some 14 of them were charged with rioting while three others were charged with burglary and simple assault, the police reported.
U.S. Park Police fired tear gas on protesters gathered outside the White House to demonstrate against police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's death pic.twitter.com/sBXKc7vngI
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 31, 2020
Washington DC, along with dozens of other cities across the US, faces days of mass protests against police brutality. The wave of public anger was unleashed by footage of the arrest and death of George Floyd, a black man from Minnesota. Floyd was pinned to the ground by a white officer, who put a knee on his neck and wouldn’t react to him saying “I can’t breathe.”
There are three sets of metal barricades separating H Street from the White House today, and protesters have easily managed to pull down the first and move into the northern third of Lafayette Park.No pushback from police who’ve formed a loose cordon further in. pic.twitter.com/qPICMQg32P
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) May 31, 2020
Dozens of people are watching from atop the supply shed on the northern edge of Lafayette Park, its walls have been spray painted top to bottom with the Black Lives Matter movement’s rallying cries like a bulletin board. pic.twitter.com/Y475zCUXZl
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) May 31, 2020
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