Police were on alert Sunday afternoon after a small group of self-proclaimed ‘alt-right’ protesters led by white nationalist Richard Spencer gathered in front of the White House.
The group was met by a group of counter protesters and a heavy police presence.
A video posted by Spencer showed a small number of protesters chanting ‘Build Kate’s Wall,’ a reference to a jury acquitting an undocumented Mexican migrant in the shooting death of Kate Steinle last week.
White nationalist Richard Spencer, center, marches on a street near the White House with supporters during an anti-immigration in Washington, DC
Tony Hovater, Richard Spencer and white nationalist demonstrators protest
Spencer and alt-right supporters gathered to protest against the verdict in Kate Steinle’s case – a woman shot by an undocumented Mexican migrant
White nationalist demonstrators protest in front of the White House in Washington
Counter-protesters were separated from Spencer’s rally by police
Police escort White nationalists marching on a street near the White House during an anti-immigration rally in Washington
White nationalists hold placards supporting the building of a wall along the US-Mexico border
A phalanx of Metropolitan Police Department officers escort white nationalists and neo-Nazis as they march away from the White House
White nationalist Traditionalist Workers Party founder Matthew Heinbach (right, in black cap), as were marched away from the White House December 3, 2017 in Washington, DC
The facists held an anti-immigration rally in response to this week’s acquittal of an undocumented Mexican immigrant in the 2015 shooting death of Kate Steinle in San Francisco
Police presence picked up briefly at the White House on Sunday afternoon as Richard Spencer and other alt-right supporters gathered to protest against the verdict in Kate Steinle’s case
Steinle’s death ended up becoming a major talking point for President Donald Trump’s campaign during the 2016 election and Trump blasted the verdict on Twitter.
Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, Steinle’s accused killer, was found not guilty. Steinle was shot on a San Francisco pier as she was taking a walk with her father.
In Washington, city cops, many in body armor, created a physical barrier between alt-right activists and members of the left wing group ‘antifa,’ which is short for ‘anti-fascist.’
Spencer led alt-right activists as they chanted ‘Crush all commies.’
Spencer, who has become the face of the ‘alt right’ movement, is the president of the National Policy Institute, a think-tank.
White nationalist Richard Spencer (dark glasses) speaks while taunting counter-protesters during a anti-immigration rally in front of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue in DC
The group was met by a group of counter protesters and a heavy police presence
D.C. police said that, to their knowledge, there were no arrests and both groups dispersed rather quickly
The dueling demonstrations appeared to be mostly peaceful
Eventually, Spencer’s group was escorted by police to hold their rally at a different location
There were only around 20 white nationalist protesters in total
Counter-protesters shout slogans at white nationalist holding an anti-immigration rally in front of the White House
According to eyewitness accounts on social media, counter-protesters could be heard chanting, ‘no Nazis, no KKK, no fascist USA’
Anti-facist counter-protesters chant ‘Nazi scum off our streets!’ in response to white nationalists and neo-Nazis that were trying to rally outside the White House
The white nationalists and neo-Nazis movement away from the White House caused counter-protesters to rabidly cheer their removal
Before he departed, Spencer yelled, ‘Build the wall today. We’ll be back’
The alt-right are a loosely affilliated collection of groups and individuals characterized by a rejection of mainstream politics that includes neo-Nazis, white supremacists and anti-Semites.
Washington D.C. police said there were no arrests and both groups dispersed quickly.
Counter-protesters were separated from Spencer’s rally by police.
According to eyewitness accounts on social media, counter-protesters could be heard chanting, ‘no Nazis, no KKK, no fascist USA.’
Fearing violence after showdowns between the two extremist groups in Charlottesville, Virginia and Florida earlier this year, police escorted Spencer’s group away and walking with them for several block until they reached a subway station.
A phalanx of Metropolitan Police Department officers escort white nationalists and neo-Nazis, including white nationalist Traditionalist Workers Party founder Matthew Heinbach (C), as they march away from the White House
Tony Hovater and white nationalist demonstrators ride the escalator down to the Washington Metro after protesting in front of the White House
White nationalists and neo-Nazis take an escalator down to the Farragut West Metro station after rallying at the White House