Washington, DC in Flames as George Floyd Riots Rage On

Numerous fires and clouds of tear gas engulfed the heart of America's capital, Washington, DC, on the night of 1 June, as a peaceful rally for racial equality escalated into riots with baton-wielding police units moving to disperse screaming crowds just a few hundred feet away from the White House.

The anti-racism protests in Washington, like elsewhere in the United States, have been ongoing for several days in a row. In particular, demonstrations have frequently been held in front of the White House, and Trump reportedly even had to take shelter in an underground bunker on 29 May when the protests turned violent.

The demonstrations have been ongoing despite the mobilisation of National Guard troops and curfews being imposed in multiple cities. Rallies in solidarity with the protesters have also occurred outside the US, namely in Germany, Canada, Ireland, Italy, and other countries.

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Many protesters suffered from the effects of tear gas during anti-racism demonstrations in Washington, DC on 1 June. Volunteer medics treated them on the spot, pouring milk and vinegar-based liquids on their faces to mitigate the discomfort.

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Disturbances in Lafayette Square spread to nearby streets, where numerous windows were smashed and several buildings and cars were torched in Washington, DC, on 1 June.

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Protesters raised their hands and knelt in tribute to George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man who died last week in the custody of Minneapolis police.

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Numerous windows were smashed and several buildings and cars were torched during riots in Washington, DC on 1 June.

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Some activists at the rally lit a huge fire on H Street, adjacent to Lafayette Square, and torched the nearby stone building of a public restroom on 1 June. As they danced jubilantly around the fire, the police advanced to disperse the crowd.

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Disturbances in Lafayette Square spread to nearby streets, where numerous windows were smashed and several buildings and cars were torched on 1 June. Rioters crushed a Mercedes sedan with wooden sticks and then turned the expensive vehicle over.

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Some activists at the rally lit a huge fire on H Street adjacent to Lafayette Square and torched the nearby stone building of a public restroom on 1 June.

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Fires burn in Washington, DC on 1 June during protests sparked by the police death of George Floyd.

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At the edge of Lafayette Square, right across from the presidential residence, thousands of protesters of all races, ages, and genders chanted "no justice, no peace", "black lives matter", and "don’t shoot". They raised their hands and knelt in tribute to George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man who died last week in the custody of Minneapolis police.

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The disturbances spread to nearby streets, where numerous windows were smashed and several buildings and cars were torched.

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On 31 May, demonstrations again gathered in front of the White House but were pushed back by police. Several protesters were injured during the confrontation with law enforcement officers.

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Protesters raised their hands and chanted "no justice, no peace", "black lives matter" and "don’t shoot" in tribute to George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man who died last week in the custody of Minneapolis police.

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