WASHINGTON—A demonstration staged to protest Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s official visit to the United States turned bloody when a pro-Erdogan group attacked demonstrators at Sheridan Circle near the residence of the Turkish Ambassador to the U.S.
The demonstration began at Lafayette Square at noon, when Erdogan was meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.
The protest was organized by a coalition of organizations, including the Armenian National Committee of America and the American Hellenic Council. Several different groups participated in the protest including representatives from the Armenian, Greek, Kurdish, and Assyrian communities.
“[This was] the type of violence you would never expect to see in America’s capital. It was the type of violence you’d expect to see in Erdogan’s Turkey and in other dictatorships,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, who captured parts of the attack and streamed the aftermath live on the ANCA’s Facebook page. “This is the very type of intolerance that has come to predominate in Turkey and it has now been exported here,” he added.
Following the White House meeting, Erdogan met with a group of US businessmen at the Turkish Ambassador’s residence across from Sheridan Circle, where another group of protesters were gathered. The pro-Erdogan group broke through the police line, stormed the circle and began beating the demonstrators gathered at the circle.
At least three people were taken to the hospital after suffering injuries. Police arrested several people in relation with the attacks.
“I saw a group of peaceful protesters in Sheridan Circle—a grassy area across from the Turkish Ambassador’s residence—who were protesting and exercising their constitutional right to speak their minds, to hold signs, to share their opinions, and express their views get rushed from across the street by a group of a pro-Erdogan [demonstrators], who broke through the police lines and attacked literally anybody within their reach with their fists and anything else they could get a hold of,” Hamparian said in the live video moments after the attack. Hamparian went on the explain that the crowd of Erdogan supporters bear as many people as they could and that many were bloodied and had to be taken to the hospital.
“This is exactly the type of violence you see in Ankara and they are exporting it here. It’s one thing for the Turkish government to do that to its own citizens—[which is] a terrible thing. It is another thing for us, as Americans, to see that exported to the United States,” Hamparian said.
This is a developing story. Asbarez will update readers as details unfold.
Deplorables!
It’s in their blood to be “hayvan”. That is how they expanded the Ottoman empire and ruled for nearly 700 years. They didn’t become an empire by playing nice or treating their subjects with kid gloves.
Rajab Oghlu is in US soil, for pilgrimage, loaded with Midnight Express sweet Turkish delights. May Allah bless Rajab Oghlu, who carry the Muslim world sweet tasty kisses on Donald’s bare a$$!
ANC was one of the organizers of this event and peaceful protestors got harmed by foreign agents !
The US law enforcement clearly did not arrest and or actively protected the harmed US citizens!
The diplomatic immunity is one thing , and failing to protect the US Citizens by the US. Law enforcement is another .
This is a civil rights case and ANC should bring a federal lawsuit against DC police and or federal government, utilizing perhaps The Armenian BAR association!!!
Failure to do anything will guarantee this happening in the future. If nothing more , the lawsuit will spotlight the issue and will be a good PR. There is ample supporting video footage and evidence!
If ANC fails to act now , next time no one will adhere to its calls to protest and or any action. It will not be taken seriously!
Years ago , When a Georgian embassy employee was involved in DUI and few US citizens got killed as a result, his immunity got reworked and he was jailed / punished!
When there is will there should be a way !
Come to Glendake lol
What were doing the US Police? Shame!
And the american police helped these vandals.
They did a good job, NOW the whole world can see what Turkey stands for, and what kind of animals they are.
WHERE ARE THE POLICE,TO PROTECT THIS CITIZEN..BEING ON THE JERKY(turks) SIDE……..I SERVED FOR THIS..THE jappos BOMBED PEARL HARBOR,WE made them HEEL.NOW, THE DIRTEST ANIMALS,COME OVER
GET SOME GUTS…..THIS IS MY COUNRTY,ILL SAY WHAT I WANT.
The police was in collaboration with Erdogan supporters/bouncers as they failed to create safe barriers between demonstrators and the Erdogan supportes/bouncers. They failed to support the fundamental constitutional right of free speech. This is a typical case of letting demonstrators get beaten so they won’t protest again. Shame on Washington DC police force.
If Erdogan’s bouncers can beat an unarmed old man and woman in DC, then we invite them to come to Los Angeles and dare to try it again, if they have the balls.
We should thank US police for not doing anything, it opened the door for worldwide media coverage, and show what kind of animals these people are.
ALL RIGHT,YOU REPUBLICAN BASTARDS SELL OUTS,GET THE DIRTY BASTARD OUT.WOULDN’T MAKE A PIMPLE ON HARRY TRUMANS’ ASS.
I WAS A REPUBLICAN,FOR 50 yrs.AFTER THEY VOTED IN erroddogies TWIN BROTHER STUMP, I PASS.
Reading all these comments one gets the impression that most of you have been living on this side of the Atlantic way away from Middle East is proof of the “white Genocide”. Clearly asbarez, the ANCA have been usurped by the democrap party and thus one sees your idiotic comments about civil right violations and “American” police protecting your right. Eshere
Apparently, the policing system was overwhelmed by the fanaticism and overwhelming number of Turkish thugs, that emerged from the protest crowd that supports Erdogan, and Turkey. More significantly, their restraint may have been due to a bureaucratic hierarchy of diplomatic immunity restrictions which prevented them from exercising appropriate consequences against the Turkish thugs.
To recapitulate upon my previous points, they underestimated the degree of brutality among the Turkish crowd, underestimated their premeditated attack strategy, and underestimated their overwhelming numbers, aside from the bureaucratic hierarchy which prevented them from exercising appropriate consequences against the Turkish thugs.
This was the time for a human element to size up the situation and take notice of safety matters that trumped any diplomatic immunity provisions, because it escalated into a criminal matter, suitable for the deportation of the Turkish thugs.