Residents in Washington DC opened their doors to hundreds of protesters overnight so they wouldn't be arrested for breaking the city&#...
Residents in Washington DC opened their doors to hundreds of protesters overnight so they wouldn't be arrested for breaking the city's curfew after authorities cornered them on the street and fired tear gas into the crowd.
One homeowner, Rahul Dubey, 44, allowed dozens of young protesters to run into his home after police cornered them in the street in the city's Dupont Circle neighborhood on Monday night.
The protesters were among the thousands peacefully demonstrating near the White House earlier in the evening.
Before the 7pm curfew, authorities started firing tear gas and using flash bangs into the crowds to clear the area so President Trump could walk to a nearby church for a staged photo op.
Some protesters say they were chased into nearby neighborhoods and eventually cornered in one street before officers fired tear gas again.
Washington DC resident, Rahul Dubey, 44, allowed dozens of young protesters to run into his home after police cornered them in the street in the city's Dupont Circle neighborhood on Monday night. He is pictured above after protesters safely left his home on Tuesday morning
The protesters were only able to leave Dubey's home on Tuesday morning when the city's curfew lifted at 6am. Dubey would not let the young protesters leave until he knew they could go without being arrested
Dubey, as well as some of his neighbors, helped provide medical assistance to those affected by the tear gas before sheltering the protesters overnight when they realized officers were rounding up everyone on the street.
Dozens of protesters spread out over the three levels of Dubey's home and remained hauled up there until Washington DC's curfew lifted at 6am.
Supporters sent pizza deliveries and water throughout the night for the protesters.
A group of supporters gathered outside Dubey's home first thing Tuesday morning to ensure the young protesters could leave safely and wouldn't be arrested as they left.
Those gathered cheered loudly for Dubey as he stood on his front steps when the protesters finally emerged from his home.
'Get home safe, get some rest,' Dubey told the protesters as they left. 'Talk to each other. Make sure you take care of that mental health.'
Police maintained a heavy presence in the area overnight and protesters say officers repeatedly tried to coax them out of the homes they were seeking shelter in.
At one point, footage taken by a protesters showed an officer coming to Dubey's front door saying they had received a 911 report of someone needing medical assistance and needed to enter.
One protester said officers assured them they could leave safely and avoid arrest if they left through the back alley of the home.
Dubey, however, refused to let the protesters leave and would not let officers into his home.
Residents in Washington DC opened their doors to hundreds of protesters overnight so they wouldn't be arrested for breaking the city's curfew after authorities cornered them on the street and fired tear gas into the crowd. Pictured above is the view from inside one home that sheltered protesters as police continued to arrest people on the street. Footage courtesy of Meka
Police maintained a heavy presence in the area overnight and protesters say officers repeatedly tried to coax them out of the homes they were seeking shelter in
Police officers dispersed the peaceful crowd gathered at Lafayette Park by the White House in Washington DC on Monday afternoon by firing tear gas and using flash bangs
Allison Lane, who was among the protesters hauled up in the home overnight, live tweeted the ordeal, saying she had been pepper sprayed and knocked down by police after they were cornered in the street.
'There are about 100 of us in a house surrounded by cops. All the neighbors on this street opened their doors and are tending to protesters. The cops corralled us on this street and sprayed us down,' she said early on.
'Looks like I'm here until 6 am. The cops are in the alley catching people who hop the fence to leave the private property. Helicopters are everywhere. This is insane.
'I've talked to a few other people. There are at least 4 houses I'm certain that let people in. Mind you - we weren't trying to be in a neighborhood. We got pushed here while peacefully protesting.'
The protesters watched on from the house for hours as police arrested the protesters who weren't able to seek refuge in homes or escape the street when the tear gas was fired.
Meka, another protester inside the home overnight, tweeted: 'I cannot stress this enough: This was the most peaceful protest group I've been with in the past 3 days in DC.'
Thousands of protesters had gathered at Lafayette Park by the White House in Washington DC on Monday afternoon as part of demonstrations over the death of George Floyd in police custody a week earlier.
Shortly before Trump made an address to the nation, police officers dispersed the peaceful crowd, firing tear gas and using flash bangs.
After the president had used his speech to threaten to deploy the military if US state governors did not stop ongoing protests across the country, he walked from the White House to the nearby St John's church.
Trump held up a bible and gathered a group of advisers to pose for photos but did not comment on Floyd, the church or the clearing of the protesters.
The protesters were forced out of Lafayette Park on Monday afternoon. Thousands of protesters had gathered at Lafayette Park by the White House in Washington DC on Monday afternoon as part of demonstrations over the death of George Floyd in police custody a week earlier
After the president had used his speech to threaten to deploy the military if US state governors did not stop ongoing protests across the country, he walked from the White House to the nearby St John's church
Trump held up a bible and gathered a group of advisers to pose for photos but did not comment on Floyd, the church or the clearing of the protesters
Trump on Tuesday boasted that law enforcement 'dominated' in Washington DC overnight and claimed there were 'no problems' with rioters.
He did, however, say in the same tweet that there were 'many arrests'.
'D.C. had no problems last night,' Trump tweeted. 'Many arrests. Great job done by all. Overwhelming force. Domination.'
'Likewise, Minneapolis was great (thank you President Trump!),' he added, as he continued to take credit for de-escalating riots in Minneapolis, Minnesota after he urged the Democratic governor to activate the National Guard there.
Despite Trump's claim, riots in DC continued in full force Monday – even after a 7pm curfew was enacted.
Looting, arson and confrontations between rioters and law enforcement continued in the nation's capital as Military helicopters hovered low above the scene.
Trump told governors in a call on Monday that they need to 'dominate' in cities that are being ravaged by rioters in the midst of George Floyd's death.
He also claimed they look like 'jerks' and 'fools' for not doing more to mitigate the violence – like making more arrests and activating the National Guard.
Donald Trump claimed Tuesday morning that there were 'no problems' in Washington D.C. on Monday, but also claimed there were 'many arrests' as violent protesters continued to ransack the streets of the nation's capital in another night of riots over George Floyd's death
Despite Trump's claim, riots in DC continued in full force Monday – even after a 7pm curfew was enacted. Looting, arson and confrontations between rioters and law enforcement continued in the nation's capital as Military helicopters hovered low above the scene
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