Protesters gather in an attempt to drown out Trump's speech

 Hundreds of demonstrators gared around White House on Thursday night for what was billed as a “ise demonstration and dance party" to drown out President Donald Trump's speech accepting Republican presidential mination

“I hope you hear us, Trump,” leer of popular local band TOB shouted. band blared Go-Go music, a distinctive D.C. variant on funk, as it heed toward White House.

Trump was delivering his acceptance speech from White House's South Lawn to close out Republican National Convention. One protester held up a sign, “Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue” — street where White House is located.

Ackwledging coronavirus pandemic, demonstrators wore masks but re was social distancing.

“Make some ise if you want to drown out Trump,” protest organizer Justin Johnson said.

re was a robust police presence but demonstration was peaceful. At one point, Johnson thanked police for letting band and protesters through a barrice. After a brief cheer from crowd, he said, “That's it. That's all y get.”

demonstration was significantly smaller than protests that rocked nation's capital this past spring after George Floyd died at police hands in Minneapolis.

Floyd's family and families of or Black Americans who were victims of police violence were expected to participate Friday in a commemoration of 1963 March on Washington that is being led by Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Lur King III.

During protests Thursday night, re was a brief standoff between police and demonstrators, who shouted anti-police slogans. “Free people, fight power,” y chanted. Nearby protesters set up a small guillotine, with District of Columbia flag as ble.

Lafayette Park, a tritional site of demonstrations across from White House, was sealed off and re were some street closures.

groups ShutdownDC and Long-Live Go-Go h put out word in vance about planned “ise demonstration and dance party” to coincide with Trump's speech.

“We’ll be at White House on Thursday to drown out (Trump’s) racist rhetoric with ar vision for future of our country,” groups said in a statement.

A longtime D.C. signature sound, Go-Go music emerged last year as a battle anm for activists fighting fast-moving gentrification in nation’s capital. music has been a regular presence in recent protests against racial injustice and rolling Go-Go trucks with live bands have appeared frequently at epicenter of protests, which was renamed by city as Black Lives Matter Plaza