"The vigil targeted by the president was started in 1981 by William Thomas to promote nuclear disarmament and an end to global conflicts, and it is believed to be the longest continuous anti-war protest in the United States. For decades, volunteers would man the site, just in front of the White House gates in Lafayette Square, to prevent it from being taken down."
"A correspondent for the conservative network Real America's Voice, Brian Glenn, asked Trump about the vigil on Friday. 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 it's kind of morphed into an anti-America sometimes, anti-Trump at many times, he said. Trump replied that he didn't know about the tent and then turned to staff to say: Take it down, right now."
"He refused and told the Post he was detained while the officers dismantled the tent. "This is a disgrace, and you should all feel ashamed," Roosien told the officers, according to video obtained by the Post. "Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, for 44 years, someone has sat here, advocating for people around the world who we don't know. Advocating for human rights. Advocating for peace.""
Law enforcement officials dismantled a peace vigil in Lafayette Square that had stood in front of the White House for more than four decades. The vigil was started in 1981 by William Thomas to promote nuclear disarmament and an end to global conflict and became the longest continuous anti-war protest in the United States. Volunteers maintained the site continuously to prevent its removal. The action followed comments from a correspondent about a blue tent and an on-the-spot order from Donald Trump to take it down. Officers arrived early Sunday, told a volunteer he had 30 minutes to remove a tarp, detained him after he refused, and dismantled the tent. Volunteers partially rebuilt the vigil, and advocates expect legal challenges.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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