WASHINGTON (AP) — On Sunday, law enforcement officials dismantled a longstanding peace vigil located outside the White House, which had been in place for over forty years. This action followed an order from President Donald Trump to clear homeless encampments in the nation’s capital.
Philipos Melaku-Bello, a dedicated volunteer who had tended to the vigil for many years, informed The Associated Press that the Park Police undertook the removal early Sunday morning. According to Melaku-Bello, officials mistakenly categorized the vigil as a shelter to justify its removal.
“An encampment is where homeless people reside,” Melaku-Bello explained. “In contrast, a vigil is a demonstration of free speech and expression. I have signs here, not a bed, and it’s protected by the First Amendment.”
The White House acknowledged the action in a statement to AP, describing the vigil as a “hazard to those visiting the White House and the surrounding areas.”
The removal of the vigil marks the latest development in a series of initiatives undertaken by the Trump administration, which began a federal policing intervention in the city last month. This action is part of his executive order aimed at the “beautification” of Washington, D.C., according to the White House.
Melaku-Bello noted that he is consulting with legal experts, perceiving the removal as a violation of civil rights. “They’re reclassifying a non-encampment as an encampment to align with Trump’s objective of eliminating encampments,” he stated.
The vigil was started in 1981 by activist William Thomas to promote nuclear disarmament and an end to global conflicts. It is believed to be the longest continuous anti-war protest in U.S. history. When Thomas died in 2009, other protesters like Melaku-Bello manned the tiny tent and the banner, which read “Live by the bomb, die by the bomb,” around the clock to avoid it being dismantled by authorities.
The small but persistent act of protest was brought to Trump’s attention during an event at the White House on Friday.
Brian Glenn, a correspondent for the conservative network Real America’s Voice, told Trump the blue tent was an “eyesore” for those who come to the White House.
“Just out front of the White House is a blue tent that originally was put there to be an anti-nuclear tent for nuclear arms,” Glenn said. “It’s kind of morphed into more of an anti-American, sometimes anti-Trump at many times.”
Trump, who said he was not aware of it, told his staff: “Take it down. Take it down today, right now.”
Melaku-Bello said that Glenn spread misinformation when he told the president that the tent had rats and “could be a national security risk” because people could hide weapons in there.
“No weapons were found,” he told AP. “He said that it was rat-infested. Not a single rat came out as they took down the cinder blocks.”
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Amiri reported from New York. Will Weissert in New York contributed to this report.
