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Clashes erupt outside White House after protesters torch US flag on American Independence Day; two secret service agents injured
World Press Trust of India Jul 05, 2019 23:07:43 IST
Washington: The burning of an American flag in front of the White House during President Donald Trump's address on the US Independence Day led to a violent scuffle between anti- and pro-Trump groups, leaving two US Secret Service agents injured.
CNN reported that Leftist protesters burned the flag outside the White House and then clashed with supporters of Trump.
The protests, which turned into violent clashes at times, took place just blocks from crowds who had gathered to watch Trump's speech and fireworks displays on the National Mall.
Led by activist Joey Johnson, a group from the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA, linked arms and set an American flag on fire outside as they chanted, "America was never great".
The secret service intervened quickly to extinguish the fire even as the protesters chanted "Burn, baby, burn". After the flag was extinguished, Johnson's group clashed with a group of pro-Trump protesters, who began chanting, "Trump 2020".
A police officer puts out the fire after demonstrators burned a national flag in front of the White House during Independence Day protest in Washington. Reuters
The two groups traded chants and scuffles that occasionally turned violent.
The two secret service agents received minor injuries in the melee and the two protesters were arrested on Thursday.
Trump became the first US president in over 70 years to deliver an Independence Day address, which the Opposition Democratic leaders criticised for what they alleged politicisation of the country's declaration of independence from Britain on 4 July, 1776.
Joined by First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, his cabinet colleagues and top military leadership, Trump in his address to thousands of people said this was an occasion to salute the US soldiers and generals.
In his 'Salute to America' address, Trump said the same American spirit that emboldened country's founders has kept its people strong throughout its history.
He recognised each branch of the armed forces, noting the Space Force would soon be added.
Several separate flyovers of military aircraft took place as Trump spoke about the legacy of the armed forces.
"On this 4 July, we pay special tribute to the military service members who laid down their lives for our nation. We are deeply moved to be in the presence this evening of gold star families whose loved ones made the supreme sacrifice," Trump added.
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Updated Date: Jul 05, 2019 23:07:43 IST
Tags : Donald Trump, Fourth Of July, NewsTracker, US, US Independence Day, White House
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/wor...flag-at-independence-day-parade-a4182911.html
Donald Trump protesters burn US flag at Independence Day military parade
- Harriet Brewis
- 10 hours ago
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Donald Trump protesters burned the American flag outside the White House as tempers flared during an Independence Day parade.
Images showed flames engulfing the stars and stripes as a small group of activists wearing “revolution” t-shirts protested in Washington DC.
A man wearing a Make America Great Again shirt scuffled with the group as they chanted slogans, grabbing the burning flag from the ground.
Earlier in the day, thousands of supporters sporting the red MAGA hats, alongside opponents of the event, poured into the city despite scorching temperatures and intermittent rain.
They watched as the president called on Americans to unite in a show of national pride as he delivered his Fourth of July “Salute to America” speech.
Demonstrators burn a US flag in front of the White House during a Fourth of July Independence Day protest in Washington DC. (REUTERS)
Military flyovers and fireworks marked the occasion which marked the US founders' declaration of independence from Britain in 1776.
Mr Trump has been accused of trying to hijack the traditional July 4 celebrations by turning them into an election rally backed by a military show of force.
A police officer puts out the fire after demonstrators burned an American flag in front of the White House. (REUTERS)
"We think that he is making this about himself and it's really a campaign rally," said Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the women-led peace group Code Pink before the event.
"This is costing us millions and millions of dollars. We the taxpayers are paying for it, for Donald Trump to use our military as a prop. And that's just not right."
USA: July 4th Independence Day 2019 - In pictures
In the shadow of the Washington Monument hours before Trump's speech, Codepink erected a ‘Trump baby’ blimp replica to protest against the American leader.
"We think that he's a big baby. He's erratic, he's prone to tantrums, he doesn't understand the consequences of his actions. And so this is a great symbol of how we feel about our president."
The balloon remained tied down at the Mall because park officials restricted the group's permission to move it or fill it with helium, Benjamin said.
Protesters also handed out small Trump-baby balloons on sticks.
A man draped in an American flag passes by the Baby Trump balloon during the Fourth of July festivities on July 4. (Getty Images)
Teenage Trump supporter Molly King, who was wearing her own MAGA hat happily came away with one.
She said: "They're making a big stink about it but it's actually pretty cute.I mean, why not love your president as you'd love a baby?"
A small crowd gathered to take pictures with the big balloon, which drew Trump supporters and detractors.
"Even though everybody has different opinions," said Trump supporter Kevin Malton, "everybody's getting along."
Trump delivers patriotic Fourth of July 'Salute to America' speech
But Daniela Guray, a 19-year-old from Chicago who held a “Dump Trump" sign, said she was subjected to a racial epithet while walking along the Constitution Avenue parade route and told to go home.
She said she did not come to the Mall to protest but ended up doing so.
"I started seeing all the tanks with all the protests and that's when I said, `Wait, this is not an actual Fourth of July’. Trump is making it his day rather than the Fourth of July."
Not since 1951, when President Harry Truman spoke before a large gathering on the Washington Monument grounds to mark the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, has a commander in chief made an Independence Day speech to a sizeable crowd on the Mall in the country's capital.
Pete Buttigieg, one of the Democrats running for president, said: "This business of diverting money and military assets to use them as a kind of prop, to prop up a presidential ego, is not reflecting well on our country."
Mr Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is a Navy Reserve veteran who served in Afghanistan in 2014.
Two groups, the National Parks Conservation Foundation and Democracy Forward, want the Interior Department's internal watchdog to investigate what they say may be a "potentially unlawful decision to divert" national parks money to the president's "spectacle."
Mr Trump has pushed for a public display of US military prowess ever since he watched a two-hour procession of French military tanks and fighter jets in Paris on Bastille Day in July 2017.
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