By Joanna Putman
Police1
WASHINGTON — Union leaders stated that officers with the U.S. Park Police faced significant challenges while managing a violent protest near Union Station, with just 29 officers present to control a large crowd of demonstrators, the New York Post reported.
Park Police Fraternal Order of Police chairman Kenneth Spencer told The Post that officers were assaulted and outnumbered, with some protestors throwing objects, including items with a strong smell of feces, at the officers. The protest was held in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress, according to the report.
“We were primarily alone,” said Spencer. “We have fewer officers now and have been neglected.”
Demonstrators sprayed monuments with graffiti, tore down and burned U.S. flags and attempted to replace them with Palestinian banners, according to the report. Despite the limited resources, the officers managed to keep the situation from escalating further.
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House National Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman sent a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, urging immediate action to support the U.S. Park Police, according to the report.
“If 2020 were to happen again in front of the White House, or in front of the Capitol, or the Lincoln Memorial, we are not going to be able to complete our mission,” Spencer told the Post.
Several arrests were made during the protest. The Metropolitan Police Department charged five individuals with obstructing traffic, and three others were charged for crossing a police line, according to the report. Additionally, six people were taken into custody by Capitol Police for disrupting Netanyahu’s speech.
