Kentucky senator Rand Paul and his wife were attacked by a mob of Black Lives Matter protesters who scuffled with police and almost shoved the senator to the ground as he left the White House Thursday night.
Video shows Paul and wife Kelley being surrounded by dozens of activists as they leave the Republican National Convention, where Trump had just accepted the party’s nomination, as police officers try to hold the crowd back.
At one point an officer holding a bicycle to shield the couple from the demonstrators was shoved backwards, stumbling into Paul and almost knocking the Kentucky senator to the ground.
After being escorted safely to his hotel, Paul tweeted thanking police, saying there were ‘over 100 activists’ and that officers had ‘literally saved our lives’ from the ‘crazed mob’.
A large crowd that included Black Lives Matter activists had gathered near the White House on Thursday night in an attempt to drown out Donald Trump’s acceptance speech with firecrackers and airhorns.
Protesters surround Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and his wife as they left the Republican National Convention late Thursday. He said he was attacked by an ‘angry mob of over 100 people’
Kentucky senator Rand Paul pictured surrounded by Black Lives Matter protesters
Police officers surrounded Rand and his wife and escorted them out of the crowd after people started to push
At one point a protester pushed a police officer carrying a bicycle (front right) who stumbled backwards into Paul (centre left), almost causing the Senator to fall to the ground
Rand tweeted after the incident: ‘Just got attacked by an angry mob of over 100, one block away from the White House. Thank you to @DCPoliceDept for literally saving our lives from a crazed mob.’
The Black Lives Matter movement is particularly strong in Kentucky, which Rand represents, following the police killing of Breonna Taylor.
Paul has been active in pushing for police reform following the shooting, in which officers used a no-knock warrant to kick in the door of the 26-year-old EMT’s home before opening fire, killing her.
The senator has introduced legislation that would ban the use of no-knock warrants, and has dubbed it the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act.
‘After talking with Breonna Taylor’s family, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s long past time to get rid of no-knock warrants,’ Paul said as the bill was introduced back in June.
‘This bill will effectively end no-knock raids in the United States.’
The officers behind that shooting have not been arrested or charged.
Rand was just one of many guests accosted by protesters as they left the White House.
As guests dressed in suits and dresses left the convention, they were bombarded by protesters in the streets who booed them, shouting ‘You racist a**’ and ‘Jacob Blake’.
The heckled guests kept walking even as demonstrators gave them the middle finger and insulted them.
Earlier in the evening protesters blared bullhorns, rang bells, and chanted ‘No justice, no peace!’ and ‘Black Lives Matter’ when Ivanka Trump introduced her father shortly before 10.30pm.
When Trump started his speech, dissidents set off firecrackers and amplified their chants in unison, all of which was audible from the South Lawn.
Blow horns could be heard in the televised broadcast of Trump’s speech.
Rand Paul was just one of several guests who were accosted by the protesters, who had gathered outside the White House in order to drown out Trump’s speech
The Kentucky senator credited police with ‘literally saving our lives from a crazed mob’ after the incident late Thursday
Raucous protesters accosted Republican National Convention guests leaving the White House Thursday evening, hurling expletives and calling them racist
These protesters ran up to RNC guests and flipped their middle fingers as they walked away from the White House late Thursday
As guests dressed in suits and dresses left the convention, they were bombarded by protesters in the streets who booed them, shouting ‘You racist a**’ and chanting ‘Jacob Blake’
RNC guests pictured being accosted as they left the White House by protesters Thursday
When Trump started his speech dissidents set off firecrackers and amplified their chants in unison, all of which was audible from the South Lawn. Some horns were also audible in his televised speech broadcast
Video taken from the streets surrounding the White House showed multiple altercations. At least one showed protesters scuffling with police – throwing punches and pushing officers as they drew batons in response.
Other videos appeared to show activists stopping an RNC bus and trying to get on board the vehicle, while other guests who left on foot were sworn at and had offensive hand gestures made at them.
Trump shared his speech late Thursday before a crowd of more than 1,500 on the South Lawn as MAGA supporters cheered ‘USA!’ and ‘Four More Years!’
There was no indication that Trump heard the protesters but speech spectators were seen turning around to see where the sounds of sirens, music and blow horns was coming from.
Protesters gathered between the White House and the National Mall and in Black Lives Matter Plaza.
‘Make some noise if you want to drown out Trump,’ protest organizer Justin Johnson said.
One group of activists were heard chanting ‘Black Women Matter, because we get stuff done.’
Protesters held up a lit sign that said ‘Trump Failed, 180,000+ died’ citing the death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US
Hundreds of raucous protesters clamored outside the White House chanting and banging drums in an effort to drown out the President’s presidential nomination acceptance speech
Large swathes of demonstrators gathered in front of the White House on Thursday ahead of Trump’s acceptance speech, hurling angry slogans and demanding he resign immediately
A Go-Go band blasts music in an effort to drown out the sound of Trump’s accpetance speech
The demonstrations were peaceful at the start of the evening, but clashes with police officers ensued when the convention wrapped up. Officers pictured subduing a protester on the ground Thursday night
In one crowd of protesters a dance party broke out with EDM remixes of Go-Go and Mo-Town music bumping from speakers.
The demonstrations were peaceful at the start of the evening, but clashes with police officers ensued when the convention wrapped up.
There were several organized protests surrounding the White House on Thursday night.
Refuse Facism held a #TrumpPenceOutNow rally and The Party Majority PAC organized a #ThePeoplesHouse demonstration nearby.
The groups ShutdownDC and Long-Live Go-Go had put out word in advance about the planned ‘noise demonstration and dance party’ to coincide with Trump’s speech.
The White House is seen in the background as Black Lives Matter supporters demonstrate at Black Lives Matter Plaza during the final night of the Republican National Convention Thursday night
Protesters dance as music blares from speakers to overpower the sound of Trump’s acceptance speech late Thursday
Protesters broke into dance at a Go-Go concert organized to make as much noise possible during Trump’s speech on the final night of the Republican National Convention Thursday
This demonstrator wore a Trump mask and held a sign that said ‘Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue’
A protester yells next to police officers wearing protective masks at a demonstration near Black Lives Matter Plaza seeking to drown out the sound of Trump’s presidential nominal acceptance speech
Police pictured facing off with protesters on Thursday night near the White House
‘You guys gotta get some rhythm,’ a protester told Secret Service officers.
‘Would you have rhythm if you were wearing 30 pounds of gear,’ one responded.
‘These presidents are not gonna do anything ’cause they are not the people of color in the streets being shot,’ a black student who travelled from Houston, Texas to take part in the protests said to AFP.
‘There are more people who are ready for Trump to leave office,’ Michael Legend, a 33-year-old black man from Washington said.
Nearby protesters set up a small guillotine, with the District of Columbia flag as the blade.
A massive group of protesters with Refuse Facism hold a rally and carry a banner that says ‘Trump/Pence #OutNow!’ near the White House on Thursday evening
Washington DC police pictured pushing back Black Lives Matter supporters on Thurday evening
A police officer (standing) removes a protester on the road as Black Lives Matter supporters demonstrate near Black Lives Matter Plaza during Thursday
Protesters pictured clamoring around police during a protest when officers blocked their path on Constitution Avenue late Thursday
Police officers wearing protective masks stand in front of a criminal justice reform sign during the Republican National Convention in Washington DC on Thursday
Earlier in the day a banner saying ‘Trump Lies All The Time’ was laid on the ground at Black Lives Matter plaza ahead of the president’s speech
A protester holds a Biden 2020 flag at the protest Thursday night
Lafayette Park, a traditional site of demonstrations across from the White House, was sealed off and there were some street closures.
National Black Lives Matter protests erupted in all 50 states in May following the police killing of black man George Floyd in Minnesota.
The outrage with the White House has only inflamed with the police shooting of Jacob Blake, 29, in Kenosha, Wisconsin in front of his three children on Sunday.
Blake survived the attack but has been left paralyzed from the waist down, according to his family’s lawyer.
Melania gives Ivanka a VERY frosty stare as the two come face-to-face after Trump’s daughter spoke at RNC
First Lady Melania Trump exchanged a frosty greeting with Ivanka Trump on the stage of the Republican National Convention on Thursday, hours after details of their fraught relationship were released in an excerpt of a new book.
After Ivanka shared an introductory remarks for her father’s acceptance speech, she shared a brief glance with Melania while walking across the stage.
Melania was captured on video giving the First Daughter a smile and a nod before bulging her eyes and making a cold, sour expression.
Earlier on Thursday an excerpt of an upcoming book penned by Melania’s former best friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff was released, revealing that the First Lady plotted ‘Operation Block Ivanka’ to prevent Ivanka from appearing in Trump’s inauguration photos.
Melania was all smiles when Ivanka wrapped up her speech at the convention and made her way towards the First couple
But after passing by Melania’s face expression turned sour. It comes after Melania’s former best friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff published an excerpt of her upcoming book Thursday revealing the First Lady plotted ‘Operation Block Ivanka’ to prevent Ivanka from appearing in Trump’s inauguration photos
Social media users were quick to pick up on the tension and posted close-up videos of Melania’s reaction.
‘Melania Trump gives Ivanka Trump that look that “I like you only because I have to,”‘ one Twitter user noted.
‘Call it a hunch, but I don’t think Melania likes Ivanka very much. On that, we can agree,’ another Twitter user commented.
‘Did Melania just roll her eyes at Ivanka,’ another Twitter user asked.
In ‘Operation Block Ivanka’ Melania approved seating arrangements for the inauguration platform that would keep Ivanka out of the camera shot when her father was sworn in as president.
Wolkoff, who oversaw big events like the Met Gala, helped organize events around Trump’s inauguration.
Together they worked out where the cameras would be set on inauguration day and how the chairs for family members should be positioned to get the images they wanted.
Twitter users had a field day with the icy exchange. This Twitter user captioned the moment saying: ‘Melania Trump gives Ivanka Trump that look that “I like you only because I have to”‘
In the end Ivanka was placed behind Melania, in some images lost from view.
‘We were all exhausted and stressed out. Yes, Operation Block Ivanka was petty. Melania was in on this mission. But in our minds, Ivanka shouldn’t have made herself the center of attention in her father’s inauguration,’ Wolkoff wrote.
She notes their operation was a result of the first daughter trying to control the schedule for inauguration day and make sure her family – husband Jared Kushner and their three children – had prominent positions on the big day.
‘It was Donald’s inauguration, not Ivanka’s. But no one was brave enough to tell her that. Melania was not thrilled about Ivanka’s steering the schedule and would not allow it. Neither was she happy to hear that Ivanka insisted on walking in the Pennsylvania Avenue parade with her children,’ she noted.