8 arrested during DC protests, including 5 for allegedly assaulting officers
WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - Police in Washington, D.C., arrested eight people, including five accused of assaulting police officers, during protests late Thursday night into Friday in the wake of President Trump’s Republican National Convention speech at the White House, police said.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested people ranging in age from 18 to 37 early Friday, according to MPD data, after hundreds gathered around the White House on Thursday night during and after Trump’s Republican presidential nomination speech at the RNC.
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Five people were charged with assault on a police officer, while others were charged with destruction of property, simple assault and resisting arrest, or a combination of charges, police said.
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 27: Police try to keep protesters back along H Street NW not far from the White House on Thursday August 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. President Trump is scheduled Thursday night to speak from the White House during the Republic
After the convention concluded, there were skirmishes as protesters yelled and threw water bottles at police at the historic St. John's Church near Black Lives Matter Plaza.
Videos showed attendees being confronted by protesters after leaving Trump's event.
A crowd also enveloped Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul as he left the convention, yelling for him to say the name of police shooting victim Breonna Taylor, who was killed in his state.
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A crowd of protesters surrounded U.S. Sen. Rand Paul as he was leaving the White House following the Republican National Convention early Friday, shouting for the legislator from Kentucky to acknowledge the shooting of Breonna Taylor. (Credit: Brenda
Video posted online showed dozens of people confronting Paul, a Republican, and his wife, who were flanked by police officers, on a street after midnight. Protesters shouted “No Justice, No Peace” and “Say Her Name” before one appears to briefly clash with an officer, pushing him and his bike backward, sending the officer into Paul’s shoulder, as seen in moments captured on video.
The senator and his wife kept walking and did not appear to have been touched by any of the protesters or to have suffered any injuries.
During a Friday morning interview with "Fox & Friends," Paul recalled how he, his wife and two others were trying to make it back to their hotel when they were swarmed.
“They were shouting threats to us – to kills us, to hurt us – but they’re also saying, shouting, ‘Say her name. Breonna Taylor,'" he said. "You couldn’t reason with this mob, but I’m actually the author of the Breonna Taylor law to end no-knock raids, so the irony is lost on these idiots that they’re trying to kill the person who’s actually trying to get rid of no-knock raids. They were shouting and screaming – really these people were unhinged."
The groups ShutdownDC and Long-Live Go-Go had put out word in advance about the planned “noise demonstration and dance party” to coincide with Trump's speech.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.