WASHINGTON — Protesters gathered across the District Wednesday as Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a fiery speech to Congress during a joint session.
During the protests, several people were arrested and many others were pepper sprayed by police.
According to U.S. Capitol Police, a crowd of demonstrators were pepper sprayed by officers near First Street and Constitution Avenue NW. USCP claims the crowd became violent and failed to follow orders to move back from the police line.
"We are deploying pepper spray towards anyone trying to break the law and cross that line," said USCP on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Video of the clash between officers and protesters shows police spraying large doses of pepper spray from blue cylinders at the crowd, a move one demonstrator told WUSA9 came without warning.
"Police essentially block the way, organizers tried to tell police that it's our constitutional right to continue marching and without warning they started pushing us and spraying us with pepper gas," the demonstrator said.
The demonstrator estimated hundreds of people were affected by the chemical deterrent.
"This is a ridiculous response to our demand for an end to the genocide, for our ability to protest the fact that a war criminal is speaking to the U.S. Congress completely against the wishes of the people of this country," they added.
Following the address, USCP said six people were also arrested in the House Gallery for disrupting Netanyahu's address during the joint session.
"Disrupting the Congress and demonstrating in the Congressional Buildings is against the law," USCP said on X.
There were at least five demonstrations going on at the same time around the Capitol building -- the majority were peaceful.
Shortly after 4 p.m. demonstrations outside Union Station escalated. WUSA9 was there when officers and protestors began to clash with police running near the crowd in riot gear.
The protest originally had a permit that was later pulled after protesters were seen burning a flag and several other actions were deemed illegal by officials.
It is unclear if any arrests have been made in this protest but WUSA9's Matt Gregory did hear demonstrators over a loudspeaker chanting, "Let him go."
The protestors who gathered at Columbus Circle then moved into the street on Massachusetts Avenue NE as officers appeared to form a line pushing back against protestors and blocking entrances to the US Capitol.
On Wednesday night, law enforcement agencies broke down a number of arrests across D.C. As of 6 p.m., the arrests include:
- Metropolitan Police Department - 9 arrests
- US Capitol Police - 6 arrests
- US Park Police - 8 arrests
The arrest charges range from crowding, obstructing, and incommoding to assault on a police officer and crossing a police line.
MPD Chief Pamela A. Smith released a statement regarding the protest Wednesday night, saying while many people chose to peacefully exercise their First Amendment right, others chose to disobey the law. Read her full statement below:
"Today, our city once again hosted people who came to exercise their First Amendment rights during a foreign dignitary visit and the Metropolitan Police Department worked alongside our law enforcement partners at the United States Capitol Police, the United States Park Police, and the United States Secret Service to ensure safety around today’s events.
While many people chose to peacefully exercise their first amendment rights in our city, some choose to disobey the law.
MPD arrested and charged five people with Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding after they used locking devices to connect their arms together and block the flow of traffic near the intersection of 4th Street, Southwest, and Independence Avenue, Southwest.
A few hours later, MPD arrested and charged two people for assaulting a police officer after they pushed MPD officers during the protest at Columbus Circle. MPD officers also arrested and charged two additional people for crossing a police line after an officer was assaulted.
The District of Columbia has a long and proud history of peaceful first amendment activities and the Metropolitan Police Department handles hundreds of protests, demonstrations, and other events every year. We will continue to support those who choose to protest peacefully and safely, and we will continue to hold accountable those who commit criminal acts while in our city.
I extend my gratitude and sincere appreciation to the members of the Metropolitan Police Department for assisting our local, state, and federal partners, and especially our community for helping us keep the District of Columbia safe for everyone"