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42 arrested during protest in DC's Adams Morgan neighborhood Thursday night

Police say those who were arrested set fires and assaulted police officers.

WASHINGTON — Police arrested 42 individuals involved in a large protest in the area of Adams Morgan on Thursday night into Friday morning.

The protesters were in the area of 18th Street and Florida Avenue in Northwest around 10 p.m. chanting, "defund the police," on the streets and near the Metropolitan Police Department's Third District Precinct.

Police said the arrested individuals intentionally set fires and destroyed property. They were charged with felony rioting and assault on police officers.

The demonstration started as a march before it made its way into the Adams Morgan neighborhood. 

D.C. police officers were at the scene monitoring the protests. Officers held a line at the intersection of Florida Avenue and 18th Street.

WUSA9 crews at the location noticed that things got heated between the group and police officers. Officers were seen boxing in some protesters and pushing them off to a small area on the street.

WUSA9 also saw police make some arrests. One arrested protester was heard banging on the walls of a D.C. Police van. Protesters were then heard chanting, "let them go."

An individual told WUSA9 that a protester had a stroke during demonstrations and was transported away from the scene in an ambulance, but WUSA9 has not been able to confirm the reason for the transport.

The protesters included members of the Occupy D.C. group. They said officers peppered sprayed some individuals before making arrests Thursday night. The group said they will continue this "fight" on Friday.

The overnight event comes in the wake of protests in the District calling for racial justice and equality that in recent weeks have not been as widespread. 

This story is developing.

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