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Police in Washington, D.C. sent a clear message to demonstrators not following orders in a tense moment caught on video.
Police in riot gear moved to disperse crowds lingering after an anti-police protest on Sunday and forcefully confronted people blocking a street in a van painted with Black Lives Matter signs. Several videos from the scene captured the moment in the so-called Black Lives Matter Plaza as police smashed in the window of the van and pulled out the driver and a passenger.
BREAKING: DC Cops just smashed the windows out on the BLM van and arrested the occupants—right after clearing Black Lives Matter Plaza with gas + rubber-coated steel bullets, leaving multiple protesters serious injured pic.twitter.com/T2edEg3OKB
— Wyatt Reed (@wyattreed13) August 30, 2020
A van noted by some social media users as the “Riot Snack Van” that was reportedly seen in nightly riots in Portland was amid the crowds of protesters in D.C. Sunday. Metropolitan Police Department officers began pushing the crowds back after objects were reportedly thrown at them. The driver of the van appeared not to heed the orders to stop the vehicle.
The officer was not going to let the guy driving the BLM van get away. Watch. pic.twitter.com/rZVmFK0Ela
— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) August 30, 2020
An officer quickly approached the spray-painted van and smashed the window, ordering the driver to stop. Video showed the MPD officer ordering the driver to put the vehicle in park and get out. It was not clear if the driver, who was seen briefly on the ground, was arrested as he and a passenger in the van were removed.
Whoa the remaining window of that BLM van has just been smashed in by police officers as they move the crowd further back through BLM Plaza in DC pic.twitter.com/lOOx9Je6tu
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) August 30, 2020
Better clip – they smash the window lmao pic.twitter.com/Fi7AsXbNSS
— Pax Christus (@paxchristus0) August 30, 2020
Black Lives Matter protesters had gathered for the second straight night of demonstrations and, following the end of a march at Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House, got into confrontations with police, the Washington Post reported.
More chaos from tonight. pic.twitter.com/WyPesneptD
— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) August 30, 2020
Smoke filled the air soon afterward as police used flash grenades, rubber pellets and canisters to push the crowd back.
People in the crowd taunt officers and throw bottles at them. Police put on helmets and more gear, it’s just after midnight in DC pic.twitter.com/2c4b1DL1Sw
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) August 31, 2020
Police were not messing around tonight. pic.twitter.com/VIncS2dE9x
— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) August 30, 2020
Officers are firing crowd control munitions. They are all blowing back towards the line, and the crowd has dispersed a bit but remains nearby: pic.twitter.com/n26qAoezG0
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) August 30, 2020
A police spokesperson told DCist that a group “intent on damaging property and injuring Metropolitan Police Department officers” were engaging in “riotous behavior” following the protests that occurred on the previous evening.
“These individuals ignited fireworks, intentionally set fires, as well as threw projectiles–including glass, bricks and smoke grenades, at officers in the area. Additionally, lasers were used to visually impair officers,” the MPD spokesperson said in an email.
Sunday’s demonstrations ended near St. John’s Episcopal Church around midnight before police began to push the crowd back.
Rapid escalation. Suddenly the whole block in front of Lafayette Square is filled with smoke, something (I didn’t catch exactly what) led cops to toss several flashbangs out of their corner near the church. They’re now sweeping north up 16th St. pic.twitter.com/SmeVWUnNPH
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) August 31, 2020
President Trump called out Washington, D.C.’s Democrat mayor in a tweet on Sunday.
.@MayorBowser should arrest these agitators and thugs!Clean up D.C. or the Federal Government will do it for you. Enough!!! @MayorBowser https://t.co/45RzrDqw1q
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2020
“Clean up D.C. or the Federal Government will do it for you,” Trump told the mayor. “Enough!!!”
Twitter users were glad to see some control being taken by law enforcement in the video involving the BLM van on Sunday.
Finally! 90 days late, but good to see some law reinstated.
— Brett (@prescottstufff2) August 31, 2020
about time…
— Steve Jeffers Vote♥️ Conservative 🇳🇿 (@steverj1967) August 31, 2020
I could watch this all day!
— John Sports (@heartattackakak) August 31, 2020
Need to see more of this, to end these riots.
— Joseph (@originalohiojoe) August 31, 2020
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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