Pro-Palestinian protesters in the nation’s capital turned violent as they demanded an immediate cease-fire in the continuing Israel-Hamas conflict, prompting police to go to the DNC offices.
About 150 persons were “illegally and violently protesting” in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Washington, according to the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP).
There were 300 people against the war, according to protesters who spoke with Fox News Digital.
USCP stated on X, “Officers are making arrests.” It cautioned against going near the area.
Six officers were hurt during the altercation on Wednesday night, according to USCP, which was confirmed on X.
According to the authorities, the officers were punched by nonviolent protestors who turned violent, received minor scratches, burns from pepper spray, and other injuries.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was represented at the demonstration by about 150 officers and at least 50 police cruisers. Videos from the event showed demonstrators fighting violently with police.
Social media footage from the DNC headquarters showed demonstrators pushing police officers and attempting to seize metal barricades while the policemen forcibly removed the protestors.
The number of protestors arrested that evening was not immediately confirmed to Fox News Digital by the Metropolitan Police Department or the U.S. Capitol Police.
The mob was standing against the officers and could be heard yelling, “Ceasefire Now!”
Members of If Not Now and Jewish Voice for Peace participated in the protests; both groups have planned additional events in Washington, D.C., following Hamas’ historic attack on Israel on October 7.
A large number of the demonstrators wore black shirts with the words “Cease Fire Now.”
A pro-Palestinian demonstrator claimed in an interview with Fox News Digital that police were responding brutally while they were peacefully protesting.
“We were peacefully saying, ‘ceasefire now,’ and the cops violently pushed us to the ground, threw us to the ground,” Olivia said. “The violence happening around the world is happening in our backyard.”
The protests outside disrupted talks at the party headquarters, according to Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., who told The Associated Press that at first, around 100 people, including politicians, House leaders, and Democratic candidates for the House, were there for a reception.
After gathering in the basement, about seven MPs were loaded into police SUVs and taken away.
After being evacuated, Sherman resorted to social media, labelling the demonstrators as “pro-Hamas.”
“Was just evacuated from the DNC after pro-terrorist, anti-Israel protestors grew violent, pepper spraying police officers and attempting to break into the building. Thankful to the police officers who stopped them and for helping me and my colleagues get out safely,” Sherman wrote in an X post.
“Apparently, these pro-Hamas demonstrators want Republicans to prevail in the next Congressional election,” Sherman added.
Congressman Sean Casten of Illinois thanked the police for safely removing the members of Congress in a letter stating that he was also evacuated from the DNC headquarters.
Peter Meijer, a former representative from Michigan and a contender for the Senate, was eager to draw distinctions between the demonstrators at the Democratic National Convention and the “March for Israel” event on Tuesday.
“A quarter-million folks rallying on the Mall yesterday to support Israel? Peaceful, orderly, strong,” Meijer wrote. “Two hundred anti-Israel protesters outside DNC tonight? Chaos, weakness, Capitol buildings locked down. Says a lot!”
