WASHINGTON — The United States Capitol Police faced off against a group of 150 people protesting outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Southeast D.C. Wednesday night.
According to information posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, by U.S. Capitol Police, the group gathered in the area of Canal Street and Ivy Street, SE, and are "illegally and violently protesting."
The group was heard shouting "Ceasefire Now!" while standing off against officers.
Protesters said they wanted the attention of the people inside because they want Democrats to put pressure on President Joe Biden to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The approximately 150 protesters arrived with what they said were 11,000 candles to represent the reported number of people killed in Gaza.
U.S. Capitol Police report that six officers were injured during the protest, including being pepper sprayed, punched and receiving minor cuts.
Ruben Arthur Camacho, a 24-year-old man from New York, was arrested for assaulting an officer after police say he slammed an officer into a garage door and punch her.
As of 10:11 p.m., US Capitol Police say the group has cleared but officers will stay in the area "out of an abundance of caution."
Protesters told WUSA9 they picked that location and time because they believed high-ranking Democrats were inside. Some protestors said the intention was to be peaceful and felt like the police response was an overreaction.
The group If Not Now claims to be behind the protest, saying on X, "The killing has to stop. We will not be ignored."
In a press statement Thursday morning, United States Capitol Police stood by the police response to the protest. According to police, the group was not peaceful.
"When the group moved dumpsters in front of the exits, pepper sprayed our officers and attempted to pick up the bike rack, our teams quickly introduced consequences," the department said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"When demonstrations cross the line into illegal activity it is our responsibility to maintain order and ensure people’s safety," the department said.
The American Civil Liberties Union released a statement on Thursday, calling the police response "aggressive."
"At the ACLU-D.C., we are concerned by this aggressive response. Initial video evidence prompts serious questions about the police action, particularly about the level of force used and the absence of warnings or opportunities for protesters to disperse," the ACLU said. "As our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. is a critical venue for the expression of views, including views sharply critical of government policy. This incident calls for an investigation, and any identified misconduct must be met with accountability. It also again shines a light on why we must end qualified immunity, which shields police officers and other government employees from being held responsible for malfeasance. Accountability for government actors is essential to protecting civil liberties and civil rights. As defenders of civil rights and liberties, the stark contrast between the police response to 'Let Gaza Live' demonstrators and the groups of people who violently stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021 to overturn a democratic election is not lost on us. We will continue to monitor the actions of the Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department. The freedom to share diverse views and spark robust debate about political issues is essential to democracy, social justice, and progress — especially in times of national and global crisis. The government must ensure that demonstrators’ First Amendment rights are protected."
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US Capitol Police say at least three people have been charged with assault on a police officer while processing close to 300 arrests during a protest near the U.S. Capitol.