Update (May 30, 2020 at 10:15 p.m.): Military personnel has reportedly been deployed as protests continue in front of the White House North Lawn. At this time, it is unclear what type of military personnel is present. More updates will be added to a separate article as this story continues to develop.
BREAKING: Military police have taken over the front line from secret service at the front lines of thee White House. #GeorgeLloyd #DCProtests pic.twitter.com/WrnJocuFm5
— Syrian Girl ?? (@Partisangirl) May 31, 2020
Update (May 30, 2020 at 9:13 p.m.): Pepper spray and rubber bullets were used in mass for the first time tonight as protests continue just feet from the White House lawn. Washington, D.C. has not implemented a curfew as protests are expected to extend through the early hours of the morning.
Original (May 30, 2020 at 8:53 p.m.): The White House perimeter has gone one lock down for the second consecutive day amid protests of police brutality. Demonstrators moved throughout Lafayette Square on Saturday afternoon before turning their attention towards the White House. Along the way, a number of public figures joined the crowds including former presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris.
This is the second day in a row that the White House has implemented increased security precautions. Yesterday, the White House entered lock down precautions as demonstrators neared the outer barriers of the White House where tourists usually convene.
People are in pain. We must listen. pic.twitter.com/5PJ9gqyu1q
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) May 30, 2020
In response to these demonstrators, President Donald J. Trump issued a number of threatening statements.
“Big crowd, professionally organized, but nobody came close to breaching the fence. If they had they would have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen. That’s when people would have been really badly hurt, at least,” he said about the protests on Friday.
“The Federal Government will step in and do what has to be done, and that includes using the unlimited power of our Military and many arrests,” he tweeted on Saturday.
Protests in the nation’s capital will lead into the night as the sun sets in Farragut North. Washington, D.C. officials have not issued a citywide curfew and reports indicate that they will not at the moment.
