BLM and Antifa march in DC, threaten to 'burn down' Washington
Black Lives Matter and Antifa protesters marched in the streets of Washington, D.C., where demonstrators scuffled with police officers and the crowd shouted threats to "burn down" the nation's capital.
On Saturday night, members of BLM and Antifa protested in D.C., where they regularly chanted, "If we don't get it, burn it down!"
Chants of “If we don’t get it, burn it down” as the march continues in DC tonight #DC #DCProtests #WashingtonDC https://t.co/YMxy90P4oj— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1612657687.0
Independent photojournalist Brendan Gutenschwager shared videos from the protest in D.C., where Antifa members waived an "Antifascist Action" flag as they marched.
‘Antifascist Action’ flag at tonight’s FTP March in DC #DC #DCProtests #WashingtonDC https://t.co/ovCTVAyGAe— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1612661124.0
The crowd yelled the popular Black Lives Matter phrase, "Whose streets? Our streets! Whose streets? Our streets!"
“Whose streets? Our streets!” chants as the march continues in DC this Saturday night #DC #DCProtests #WashingtonDC https://t.co/CB3vsCodgH— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1612660506.0
During the "FTP March" (an acronym for "F*** The Police"), the mob shouted the anti-police battle cry, "A.C.A.B. All cops are bastards!"
“ACAB” chants as the group mobilizes once again in DC on this Saturday night #DC #DCProtests #WashingtonDC https://t.co/CGaOPKtD0u— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1612659197.0
The demonstrators stopped near a row of restaurants, where protest leaders delivered lectures about "race, Black and Indigenous lives" to nearby diners.
Speeches on race, Black and Indigenous lives next to the outdoor diners in DC #DC #DCProtests #WashingtonDC https://t.co/LaGQ5qW3hC— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1612659395.0
At one point, things escalated after a black bloc protester shined a light into the face of a police officer, who then slapped away the flashlight. The black bloc member retaliated and smacked the police officer. The officer then pushed the crowd back by using his bicycle. The black bloc protester then slaps another cop. The officer thrusts his bike even more aggressively into the crowd dressed in all black. During the tense situation, a female in the crowd tells the officer to put his face mask on.
The BLM march ended with a speech honoring Eric Garner, according to Gutenschwager.
"We are here tonight because black lives matter," the BLM crowd repeated after the main speaker. "Despite black lives mattering, black people are still dying at the hands of the police paid for by our tax dollars."
The group recited the story of Eric Garner, a New York man who died while in police custody in 2014. During the story, the crowd called police officers the derogatory name of "pigs" on multiple occasions.
There were then several chants of "I can't breathe!"
The march ends with a speech honoring Eric Garner as the group wraps up tonight’s protest in DC #DC #DCProtests… https://t.co/HZeJBF9hW7— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1612665017.0
Washington, D.C., has been heavily guarded since the Capitol riots on Jan. 6. There were more than 26,000 National Guard troops in D.C. before President Joe Biden's inauguration.
"There are currently about 7,000 National Guard members in the city providing security," ABC News reported. "That number is expected to slowly go down to 5,000, and they are set to stay until about mid-March. The total cost for the deployment is expected to be close to $500 million."
The U.S. Capitol building has been fortified with barricades and fencing, which many are calling for the structures to be removed.
'Stop the Steal' rally turns bloody after four stabbed and in critical condition; counterprotests incite chaos in DC
There were several pro-Trump rallies held in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, including the "March for Trump" and the "Stop the Steal" rally in support of challenging the 2020 presidential election results. In retaliation, at least three anarchist and Antifa-linked groups planned counterprotests in the nation's capital, including the "F*** MAGA" protest. The clashing groups clashed on the streets of D.C., which resulted in four people being stabbed and nearly two dozen arrests.
The large protests in support of President Donald Trump were mostly peaceful, but violent skirmishes erupted on Saturday night between the adversarial groups.
A coalition of Black Lives Matter and Antifa supporters appear to be prepared for battle as they wield shields.
#antifa and #BlackLivesMatter form a line of shields as MPD holds their position. #MarchForTrump https://t.co/NdnbuptCWb— eric thomas (@eric thomas)1607809318.0
A horde of black bloc members are seen marching towards police and throwing water bottles and bricks at them.
(Content Warning: Graphic footage):
BREAKING: Antifa black bloc violently confront MPD by throwing water bottles and bricks at them amongst other proje… https://t.co/GEGo5L7AcA— TheBlaze (@TheBlaze)1607826642.0
An alleged Antifa member was physically removed from the fracas when a police officer picked him up like a child and dropped him on the street.
Antifa black bloc in DC is picked up like a baby and removed https://t.co/mQbcvOxrWq— ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ELIJAH SCHAFFER)1607831938.0
Members of BLM and Antifa fought with the Proud Boys, despite police attempting to constantly separate the warring groups, as seen in video from Daily Caller field correspondent Shelby Talcott and Townhall senior writer Julio Rosas.
All out brawls in downtown DC between black bloc protesters and Proud Boys right now: https://t.co/ObPlnScI0W— Shelby Talcott (@Shelby Talcott)1607818254.0
D.C. police are trying to keep the Proud Boys and Antifa separate to prevent fighting. https://t.co/V7d3qnwiIb— Julio Rosas (@Julio Rosas)1607819577.0
At times, it’s just an all out brawl between the Proud Boys, Antifa, and D.C. police. Lots of pepper spray is being… https://t.co/8z1ugdDeyh— Julio Rosas (@Julio Rosas)1607820576.0
Fireworks were reportedly launched towards the hotel that the Proud Boys were staying at, according to Matthew Miller from the Post Millennial.
Firework explodes in police line. Antifa seemingly used it to create a hole in the line so some of them could charg… https://t.co/Zvb1tDYcRa— Matthew Miller (@Matthew Miller)1607815728.0
A man dressed in all black is surrounded by a group of Proud Boys, some of them are heard yelling, "He's got a knife!" One person walks behind the man with the knife and hits him in the head with an object. The group then jump on the man, and apparently, that is when the stabbings happened.
Chaotic scenes in DC as person carries knife into violent political street brawl. At least one person ends up stabb… https://t.co/ILMSZSbchS— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1607854302.0
The exact moment that the man drew his knife was captured by SWNS chief photographer Adam Gray.
A member of the #ProudBoys is stabbed during violent running street fights in #WashingtonDC tonight #DC #DCProtests… https://t.co/VoW3fwwpEj— Adam Gray (@Adam Gray)1607827386.0
The four people who were stabbed were said to be in critical condition, some suffered "life-threatening injuries," according to D.C. fire spokesman Doug Buchanan.
Reports of at least 2 stabbed here on 11th Street in DC. Victims being transported from the scene now… https://t.co/SzpR60ePwQ— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1607826229.0
Proud Boys pray for the members who were stabbed, asking for a "moment of silence" for two "brothers" who are "fighting for their f***ing life" and "might not f***ing pull through."
Proud Boys pray just outside BLM Plaza for PB who was stabbed earlier in the night. https://t.co/AHnpAAI1HH— Matthew Miller (@Matthew Miller)1607831525.0
Two police officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and two people with minor injuries, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's office said.
@DCPoliceDept assisted an injured female officer as she limped her way outside of the counter-protest zone as civi… https://t.co/4jd2vRvSQv— ABC 7 News - WJLA (@ABC 7 News - WJLA)1607827147.0
The Metropolitan Police Department reported making 23 arrests on Saturday: 10 for simple assaults, six for assaults on police officers, four committed "riotous acts," two charged with "crossing a police line," and one person had a taser and was charged with "possession of a prohibited weapon."
Video from reporter Brendan Gutenschwager appears to show the man with the knife being arrested.
DC Police arrest one of the counter-protesters near BLM Plaza #DC #MarchForTrump #ProudBoys #Antifa… https://t.co/HLCyA2dwhy— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1607834460.0
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