Christopher BergWashington, DC – Activists reacted with violence after law enforcement officers stopped them from tearing down a statue of President Andrew Jackson Monday night.
The anti-statue activists initially appeared to go unchallenged and started pulling on straps to topple the statue in Lafayette Square.
The activists claim to have renamed Lafayette Square, “Black Lives Matter Square.”
Protestors in Washington, D.C. tearing down a statue of Andrew Jackson, the president responsible for the Trail of Tears and a hero to President Trump. Video courtesy of @jonathanchase_ pic.twitter.com/MH2t4m7MT9
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) June 23, 2020
So boom, things heating up. Peep medic hats once again. Folks chaining up this stupid mf ANDREW JACKSON RAPIST GENOCIDAL MANIAC statue and the police getting hot and bothered. #dcprotest pic.twitter.com/me4ESAtAjD
— Seun (@seuntheactivist) June 23, 2020
As the activists were working to bring down the statue, U.S. Park Police moved in to stop them.
So boom, cops get boxed out they break through, start literally throwing folks. THROWING FOLKS. @MayorBowser you suck and you funding them even more you’re literally done come 2022 i’ll make sure of it. #dcprotest pic.twitter.com/ZhuMRYLC4H
— Seun (@seuntheactivist) June 23, 2020
Wild scene in Lafayette Park as protesters clashed with members of the Park Police and Secret Service earlier this evening in #Washington, #DC pic.twitter.com/ZlooQQElJj
— The WannabeWonk (@PotempkinBrain) June 23, 2020
Metropolitan Police Department could be seen in the area helping to hold back the hostile crowd.
Police pepper spraying protesters in DC right now pic.twitter.com/Kf4fj14E6x
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) June 23, 2020
Activists have been destroying statues across the U.S. which they deemed to be “racist” in recent weeks.
The activists blamed Andrew Jackson for violence against Native Americans.
Other statues which have been recently destroyed include George Washington and President Ulysses S. Grant.
President Grant is best known for crushing the Confederate army in the Civil War, helping to end slavery. He is also known for crushing the the KKK and presiding over the 15th Amendment which granted black men the right to vote.
President Grant was also a Republican.
Holly Matkin
