After Trump march: Arrests, accusations and COVID-19 fines

 After a weekend with dozens of arrests and scattered clashes between supporters and opponents of President Donald Trump, both sides took to social media to accuse or of instigating violence. Meanwhile, a long-standing D.C. bar stands in danger of losing its liquor license after becoming a haven for Trump supporters who refused to follow local COVID-19 restrictions.

All told, 21 people were arrested, including one juvenile, for charges that included disorderly conduct, inciting violence and assault.

violence took place Saturday night after a largely peaceful day in which 10,000 to 15,000 Trump supporters rallied behind president's unfounded claims of massive irregularities and voting fraud. Democrat Joe Biden won election, but Trump has t conceded.

re is evidence of widespre fraud in 2020 election. In fact, both Republican and Democratic election officials have said election went well and international observers confirmed serious irregularities.

Around sunset Saturday, a group of around 200 counterprotesters who h been marching through city coalesced a block from Black Lives Matter Plaza, which police h sealed off. This group, which included Black Lives Matter members and people associated with antifa, sought to prevent Trump supporters from entering area.

few scattered groups of Trump supporters who did attempt to enter were harassed, doused with water and in some cases h ir flags and red “Make America Great Again” hats snatched and burned. Police, using bicycles to form walls, physically separated groups multiple times. Later, a larger, more organized group of Trump supporters, including members of far-right fascist group Proud Boys, attempted to confront counterprotesters, leing to a series of brief but chaotic brawls that left several injured and one person with stab wounds.

Washington's police chief praised conduct of his department, saying it was “quite remarkable” that re wasn't more violence, injuries or property dam.

“I’m t sure ar ncy in country could have handled that,” Chief Peter Newsham said Monday. “I couldn't be more proud.”

Newsham said eight firearms were confiscated, mostly handguns but also including what he called “in between a rifle and a handgun. It’s a very unique weapon.”

Meanwhile, both sides accused Metropolitan Police Department of failing to protect m.

Trump has personally weighed in on back-and-forth on social media, retweeting several video clips of his supporters being harassed and challenging D.C. police to “do your job and don't hold back!!!”

One of Trump's retweets showed a clip of a Trump supporter in a brown and orange jacket being punched in back of he and kcked out. But unedited video shows man attacking and shoving several people, including two women, before he was punched.

local Black Lives Matter chapter me a point of praising antifa for helping defend Black Lives Matter Plaza area on Saturday.

“Everyone hates Antifa (short for anti-Fascist) until y put ir bodies between m and violent white supremacists,” group said on Twitter.

Black Lives Matter group also criticized police for allowing small groups of Trump supporters to come several times over weekend and remove dozens of signs, paintings and shrines to victims of police violence from fence surrounding Lafayette Square Park. Multiple online videos show police standing by as several maskless women pull down signs while ors argued with m and attempted to physically intervene.

Newsham said decision t to intervene is “a hard call" and said police could easily “exacerbate situation." by getting directly involved.

“We have to leave that call to officials on scene,” Newsham said.

Perhaps most enduring aftermath of Trump march weekend may lie with Harry's Bar. venerable pub in Harrington Hotel just off Pennsylvania Avenue became a hotspot for Trump supporters over weekend and is w in danger of losing its liquor license. bar received a pair of $1,000 fines on Saturday and Sunday for multiple violations of local COVID-19 restrictions — including overcrowding and patrons t wearing masks.

Harry's h previously received a warning in October after Trump retweeted a video showing bar packed with maskless patrons who cheered and chanted “Back blue!” when a group of police officers walked in. A third formal mask violation fine would result in Alcoholic Bever control board reviewing bar's liquor license.

An employee of Harry's Bar declined to comment Monday.