Washington: Anti-racism protest in Lafayette Square

Protesters stayed in Washington, D.C.'s Lafayette Square, close to the White House late on Monday night, after an attempt to pull down a statue. Hours earlier, protesters tried to pull down a statue of President Andrew Jackson before police dispersed them.

WUSA-TV in Washington reported that police used pepper spray to move protesters out of Lafayette Square, where the Jackson statue is located. Videos posted on social media showed that the protesters had climbed on the statue and tied ropes around it, then tried to pull it off its pedestal.

The statue shows Jackson in a military uniform, riding a horse that is rearing on its hind legs. The 19th century president's ruthless treatment of Native Americans has made his statue a target of demonstrators protesting against the United States' legacy of racial injustice. The Jackson statue remained on its pedestal Monday night.

President Donald Trump tweeted late Monday that “Numerous people” had been arrested for “the disgraceful vandalism.” He added: “10 years in prison under the Veteran’s Memorial Preservation Act. Beware!”

(Image credit: Representative)