Attendees at the last night of the Republican National Convention were attacked and attacked by a large crowd of protesters as they left the White House on Thursday night.
Footage from the streets around Pennsylvania Avenue showed one white-haired man being hit in the back of the head and later knocked to the ground by a crowd of activists who also threw water over him.
Meanwhile, RNC commissioner Chris Ager and his wife were repeatedly abused by a balaclava protester who threatened to “pick you up” when they tried to enter the doors of their hotel.
Hundreds of activists gathered outside the White House to protest Trump’s acceptance speech, trying to drown it with air horns and fireworks.
RNC attendees were robbed and dressed outside the event in Washington DC on Thursday night, with one man in the back of the head (photo)
The man was seen with a bloody chin and splashed water in front of his shirt after he was attacked by protesters
The man was also struck to the ground at one point, and also had water poured over him as he emerged from the incident.
RNC commissioner Chris Ager and his wife were confronted by a woman with a balaclava who swore at him and asked ‘how do you feel about the deaths of black people in America?’
When Ager tried to get inside the locked doors of his hotel, the woman threatened to ‘pick her up’ after he had apparently touched her.
As demonstrations began peacefully, things gradually started to get ugly as the night went on, with participants forced to run a handful of angry activists as they tried to leave the event.
Footage showed some quarrels erupting between police and protesters, some of whom had rights with blows to officers who had drawn sticks in response.
Senator Rand Paul was also funded by Protestants who nearly pushed him to the ground as he left the White House after he shot a police officer inside him.
Several videos, however, showed no police protection for participants surrounded by group of aggressive Protestants.
In one piece of footage, a bus carrying RNC participants pulled to a street blocked by activists before attempting to turn around.
Protestants jump on the wagon, hang from the side mirrors, while others walk behind as it works to reverse, preventing the driver from doing so.
A second image taken from behind the car shows protesters pulling open the back door of the car while they are inside.
Hundreds of protesters gathered near the White House for a party aimed at drowning Trump’s speech, but scenes were slowly unseen as the night wore on.
Activists clashed with police on multiple cordons set up around the White House, but in other areas officers appeared to be completely absent as RNC participants walked away.
Activists wore banners depicting Trump as Hitler, while some mocked guillotines were set up on the streets of the Capitol
Protesters shout in front of a relocating officer at a protective gate at the White House on the last night of the RNC
Florida Republican Brian Mast is confronted by masked protesters as he leaves the RNC last night
Protester Shelton Hawkins raises his fist while standing on top of a bus during a protest on the fourth night of the Republican National Convention
At one point, a woman jumps on board the car and slams the door on her, before it opens again and she climbs off.
Protests began in Washington DC this afternoon, with a rally outside the home of Amazon owner Jeff Bezos demanding a minimum wage of $ 30.
Demonstrations then moved to the streets around the White House from 7pm, with DJs and bands playing in an attempt to drown the RNC.
During the convention itself, which lasted from 9pm to 11pm, Protestants let off fireworks and blew air horns that could be heard in the background of Trump’s speech when it was broadcast on television.
Scuffles first began between the activists and a small number of counter-protesters which, according to DCist, led to two arrests.
But when the convention ended, the disruptions became widespread. It is unclear if there were any arrests.
Against the backdrop of protests, Trump’s speech in November painted a dire choice for voters: a second term for himself or a vote for Joe Biden, whom he claimed would ‘demolish’ the nation.
“Despite all our greatness as a nation, everything we have achieved is now in jeopardy,” the president warned in his acceptance speech, given on the White House’s Southeast.
Rand Paul was also among those confronted by protesters as he left the RNC, with protesters around him as police opposed them.
The Kentucky senator and his wife had to be protected by police when protesters shouted at their abusers
At one point, a Protestant shot an officer with a bicycle in Paul (pictured right), who stumbled and nearly knocked the senator to the ground.
‘This is the most important election in the history of our country. Never before have voters stood for a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, than two agendas. ‘
“This election will decide if we save the American dream, or if we allow a socialist agenda to destroy our cherished destination,” he said.
And he ended his remarks with the same message.
‘I say again to all Americans: This is the most important election in the history of our country. “There has never been such a difference between two parties, as two individuals, in ideology, philosophy or vision then there is now,” he said.
His speech ended two weeks of conventions – first Democratic, then Republican – presenting two diametrically opposed versions of a country plagued by the coronavirus pandemic, affected by a racial rights bill, and hit by mass unemployment on a scale unknown since the 1930s.
Democrats called the Trump administration a time of ‘American darkness’, while Republicans said Biden would bring anarchy; Democrats focused on the virus and unemployment, and Republicans on “crime and violence.”
The end of the conventions marks the end of the line, with the first head-to-head debate on September 29 giving Trump and Biden a month to focus their message and tackle the challenge of campaigning in a pandemic.
While demonstrations began peacefully with a street party, scenes were seen as the night went on, with multiple confrontations recorded on the street
Protesters plead with police amid violent clashes around the US capital on the last night of the RNC
A Protestant disguised as the infamous Trump baby blimp walks through the streets of DC on the last night of the RNC
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