Violent conflicts involving Antifa, Black Lives Matter and the Proud Boys erupted in Washington, D.C., Saturday night, leading to at least eight injured officers, four stabbings, and 33 arrests.
Fox News reported that eight DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers suffered injuries while attempting to control the chaos, with at least two officers hospitalized as a result.
According to KNBC, Black Lives Matter (BLM) DC organizer April Goggans claimed the MPD “physically protected white supremacists” by allowing them to threaten individuals and burn BLM signs. BLM has demanded DC Mayor Muriel Bowser “protect” people from “Trump supporters and white supremacists,” and hold local police “accountable for enabling white supremacist violence.”
“We demand that Mayor Bowser and the D.C. Council protect the people of D.C. and promote the values of Black Lives Matter Plaza by taking immediate action to hold the police department accountable and to protect our civil and human rights,” BLM DC stated, according to KNBC.
Social media was filled with first-hand accounts as Saturday’s events unfolded. One Twitter user posted a video that showed a conflict between MPD officers and Antifa.
“[Antifa] clash with MPD as they push the police line back. after numerous objects are thrown at officers they advance towards protestors where things get intense,” the user tweeted.
#antifa clash with MPD as they push the police line back. after numerous objects are thrown at officers they advance towards protestors where things get intense. #MarchForTrump #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/gsYq2CwRVM
— eric thomas (@justericthomas) December 12, 2020
In several other videos, fights break out between Antifa and the Proud Boys as police attempt to intervene.
multiple fights break out between #antifa and the Proud Boys as the two groups meet. Cops try to intervene as pepper spray is shot into the crowd. #BlackLivesMatter #MarchForTrump pic.twitter.com/5gykrpzQcN
— eric thomas (@justericthomas) December 13, 2020
a proud boy is pepper sprayed as #antifa is being sectioned off by police. #MarchForTrump #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/P2Ur0bL74G
— eric thomas (@justericthomas) December 13, 2020
Additional footage showed Proud Boys setting a BLM banner on fire and smashing Black lives Matter boards on the streets of D.C.
Proud Boys set fire to the Black Lives Matter banner outside of Harry’s here in DC #DC #MarchForTrump #ProudBoys #Antifa #BLM pic.twitter.com/uWfhwyTITC
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) December 13, 2020
Smashing the Black Lives Matter boards on the streets of DC tonight as the March For Trump continues #DC #MarchForTrump #DefendDC #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/AdX3nVeR7h
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) December 13, 2020
Another video showed “3 more protesters arrested and carried away by police.”
3 more protesters arrested and carried away by police #DCProtests #DCProtest pic.twitter.com/DjFbJvAEtl
— ChuckModi (@ChuckModi1) December 12, 2020
The intense clashes started after thousands of President Donald Trump supporters participated in the “March for Trump” in D.C. to support the president’s efforts in fighting voter fraud and suppression that allegedly took play during the 2020 presidential race.
“This isn’t over. This is just beginning,” Katrina Pierson, a former Trump campaign spokeswoman, told rally attendees, the New York Post reported. “We knew that both Republicans and Democrats were against we the people. We are the cavalry. No one’s coming for us.”
