Police arrested around 60 protesters outside the U.S. Capitol on Friday evening after several breached a barrier of bike racks and approached the steps leading to the Capitol Rotunda, according to the U.S. Capitol Police.
The group—made up of veterans and military family members—planned a sit-in protest to oppose President Donald Trump’s deploying the National Guard and active-duty Marines in Los Angeles, along with a military parade scheduled for Trump’s 79th birthday on Saturday. Organizers released a statement detailing their intentions.
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Capitol Police reported that about 75 individuals had gathered peacefully earlier at the Supreme Court, just across from the Capitol. As the protest ended and the group moved, officers began setting up bike rack barricades to prevent access to Capitol grounds.
“A few people pushed the bike rack down and illegally crossed the police line while running towards the Rotunda Steps,”
— U.S. Capitol Police
Police immediately responded by blocking the group and making arrests.
Authorities said all those arrested would face charges of unlawful demonstration and crossing a police line. Some may also face charges for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
The protest was organized by About Face: Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace. Organizers said the sit-in followed a rally and press conference.
“We want a future where we invest in care for veterans, in health care, and in education—not where we spend $50 million on a parade,”
— Brittany Ramos DeBarros, Army combat veteran and organizing director of About Face
The arrests happened just ahead of what’s expected to be one of the largest summer gatherings in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Army celebrates its 250th birthday on Saturday will include the military parade, drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees. The parade is estimated to cost around $45 million and will showcase soldiers, tanks, planes, and other military assets.
Security for the event, led by the U.S. Secret Service, will include the same kind of fencing protesters allegedly breached on Friday. In addition, federal agencies will deploy thousands of officers, 18 miles of anti-scalable fencing, surveillance drones, counter-snipers, and various other security measures.
Matt McCool, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, told CNN that officials are closely watching protests in Los Angeles and other cities, but they have already prepared for the potential of large-scale demonstrations in the capital.
As of Friday night, agencies reported no active threats to the parade or related events.
