Extraordinary images show dozens of National Guard troops lined up on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC on fifth day of protests over the death of George Floyd
- Hundreds of people gathered for a demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Tuesday night
- At least 60 National Guard troops clad in riot gear stood watch on the steps of the monument
- The military show of force drew outrage online as critics questioned why so many officers were needed
- The stunning scene came a day after President Trump threatened to send in soldiers to patrol the streets of DC and other US cities where protests have devolved into violence
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Dozens of National Guard troops stood watch over a peaceful protest in front of the Lincoln Memorial in an extraordinary show of military force on Tuesday evening.
Hundreds of people gathered for the demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Washington DC’s fifth consecutive day of protests following the death of George Floyd.
At least 60 law enforcement officials, most of them with the National Guard, were waiting on the steps of the monument when the protesters arrived.
Extraordinary images show the officers clad in full riot gear lined up in separate rows as they stared down at the crowds standing in the same spot where Martin Luther King Jr gave his iconic ‘I have a dream’ speech half a century ago.
Dozens of National Guard troops stood watch over a peaceful protest in front of the Lincoln Memorial in an extraordinary show of military force on Tuesday evening
Hundreds of people gathered for the demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Washington DC’s fifth consecutive day of protests following the death of George Floyd
At least 60 law enforcement officials, most of them with the National Guard, were waiting on the steps of the monument when the protesters arrived
The military show of force drew outrage social media as critics questioned why so many officers were needed to patrol what ended up being a peaceful gathering.
The crowds dispersed by the time a city-wide curfew went into effect at 7pm.
Critics also pointed out the historical significance of the site honoring President Abraham Lincoln, who moved to abolish slavery with his Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
One Twitter user asked: ‘What is Lincoln, sitting in that giant chair that overlooks DC, thinking tonight?’
The stunning scene came a day after President Donald Trump threatened to send in ‘thousands and thousands’ of soldiers to patrol the streets of DC and other cities around the US where protests have devolved into violent confrontations with police and activists.
Over the weekend the nation’s capital saw fires set near the White House and vandalism at historic landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial.
The military show of force drew outrage social media as critics questioned why so many officers were needed to patrol what ended up being a peaceful gathering
A protester raises their fist in the air during the peaceful demonstration
Stunning photos show the officers clad in full riot gear lined up in separate rows as they stared down at the crowds
Tensions flared on Monday after law enforcement fired tear gas, rubber bullets and flash bangs into crowds of protests.
The dispersion tactics were meant to clear the streets before Trump set out for a photo op in front of St John’s Episcopal Church, which was targeted by arsonists the night before.
Clashes between police and protesters continued after the 7pm curfew went into effect on Monday night and low-flying military helicopters swept in to break up crowds with wind.
The Capitol was significantly quieter on Tuesday night despite protesters once again flouting curfews.
The Pentagon confirmed that it had deployed about 1,600 troops from Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Drum in New York to help keep the peace should the unrest continue.