Violence erupted at the Democratic National Committee headquarters on Wednesday night during a violent protest demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, yet any damage the following morning was hard to find.
Cleaning crews were seen clearing the areas in front of the headquarters and adjacent buildings, including the National Democratic Club.
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A cleaning crew member told the Washington Examiner that there was no damage, “just dirt.”
A few lights planted by a tree in front of the National Democratic Club had been smashed, which appeared to be the greatest property damage from the protest.
A large number of small plastic candles were scattered in front of the buildings, put there Wednesday night by protesters. Cleaning crews had cleared most of them, but a great number remained. Many were crushed, either from vehicles or the protest.
Democratic lawmakers were inside the building when roughly 150 pro-Palestinian protesters demanding a ceasefire in Gaza showed up Wednesday. The protesters clashed with Capitol Police before lawmakers were evacuated.
Capitol Police said in a statement that six officers were treated for injuries “ranging from minor cuts to being pepper-sprayed and punched.”
Police said one person was arrested on suspicion of “assault on an officer.”
I was just evacuated from the @dccc office after the building was surrounded by protestors who had blocked all modes of ingress and egress. Grateful to Capitol Police for getting all members and staff out safely. To the protestors: PLEASE don’t do something irresponsible /1
— Sean Casten (@SeanCasten) November 16, 2023
Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) said he was grateful for Capitol Police getting people out of the building safely and asked the protesters not to do “something irresponsible” and invoked the terrors of Jan. 6.
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“You have the constitutional right to peaceably assemble and protest. But blocking all entries to a building with multiple members of Congress in it, protected by Capitol Police officers who have lived through January 6 is putting you and other innocent people at risk,” Casten said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “We were rescued by armed officers who did not know the protestors’ intent; they knew only that Members of Congress were inside, could not leave and that protestors would not let police through. Forcing police to guess intent is irresponsible and dangerous.”
Metal barricades were still in place, blocking the entrance to the DNC headquarters.
