Sandy MaloneWashington, DC – More than 50 members of the U.S. Secret Service were injured late Sunday night battling back rioters who threw Molotov cocktails at law enforcement protecting the White House, and now the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has sent in reinforcements from other federal law enforcement agencies.
FOX News reported that a senior official said that more than 50 members of the Secret Service have been injured so far in the second night of violent rioting in front of the White House.
A crowd of more than 5,000 violent protesters began hurling incendiary devices including Molotov cocktails and large fireworks in the direction of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW shortly after dark on May 31.
The violence increased as protesters set fire to historic landmarks nearby the White House, including historic St. John’s Episcopal Church, also known as the “Church of the Presidents” because every sitting U.S. President since James Madison has attended services there.
President Abraham Lincoln attended services there before he was assassinated.
Some rioters dispersed into the blocks surrounding the White House after police deployed gas at encroaching protesters in Lafayette Park, directly across the street.
Rioters set fire to cars parked along the curb, shot off professional-grade fireworks in the middle of the street, and lit the headquarters of the AFL-CIO ablaze.
At the same time, the violence increased in the immediate vicinity of the Executive Mansion and a historic building on the site was set ablaze.
More graffiti was added to the wall of Decatur House on Sunday night, a shocking move given what should be its historical significance to the Black Lives Matter movement.
The landmark Decatur House is the only remaining slave quarters within sight of the White House, according to the White House History website.
Just after midnight, DoJ confirmed it had deployed U.S. Marshals and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents to assist the Secret Service, U.S. Park Police, and National Guard soldiers who were defending the perimeter of the White House, FOX News reported.
About a mile from the White house, officers stood guard over the National Law Enforcement Memorial Wall on Sunday night, after the monument bearing the names of all U.S. law enforcement officers who have given their lives in the line of duty was vandalized during Saturday night’s riots.
A curfew imposed by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser on Sunday went into effect at 11 p.m. but seemed to have zero effect on rioters and looters rampaging through the city.
Looting has continued to spread into other sections of Northwest DC.
Gunshots were reported in the historic shopping district in Georgetown as violent protesters smashed windows to steal merchandise.
And looters ransacked countless stores along the Maryland/DC line in Friendship Heights, tearing the plywood boards off the windows of Mazza Gallerie to get inside the shopping mall.
Police officers from Montgomery County, Maryland partnered with DC Metropolitan police to try and restore order as looters tore through grocery stores, pharmacies, and high-end retailers.