Protesters on Tuesday surrounded Washington, D.C., police after they arrested a masked man behind the White House.
Police chased the man down the street before stopping him at an intersection. Protesters followed and confronted the officers who held the man down. Soon, a mob formed and police protected themselves with a ring of bicycles. Protesters began chanting at them as police attempted to push them backward.
Confrontation in BLM Plaza between protesters and police after police arrest masked person. pic.twitter.com/amINcHGCKF
— Nic Rowan (@NicXTempore) November 4, 2020
As more protesters and onlookers rushed around the police, a helicopter circling overhead stopped and shined its light on the scene.
Protesters have police surrounded. A helicopter has its spotlight fixed on the scene. pic.twitter.com/Gf0QHJWqzD
— Nic Rowan (@NicXTempore) November 4, 2020
Police removed themselves from the situation amid shouts from protesters following them out of Black Lives Matter Plaza.
“We’re going to burn this motherf—er to the ground!” one protester shouted.
— Nic Rowan (@NicXTempore) November 4, 2020
The incident was the second time protesters encircled police as they awaited election results in the plaza. The first time, protesters chased a man who was bleeding from the head out of the plaza. Police took him behind a line they had formed near the White House.
Protests are expected to continue throughout the night as election results come in.
