Trump Orders removal of 44-Year Peace Protest Near White House, Activists Cry Diversion
WASHINGTON D.C. – After 44 years, a continuous peace protest established near the White House is facing removal following a directive from former President Donald Trump. The protest, initially sparked by concerns over U.S. involvement in global conflicts and the threat of nuclear war, has become a fixture in Lafayette Park, but now finds itself in the crosshairs of a renewed push by Trump to reshape the image of the nation’s capital.
The move comes as Trump has increasingly focused on issues of public order and aesthetics in Washington D.C., recently targeting the city’s homeless population and deploying the National Guard despite opposition from the mayor. Activists maintain the attempt to dismantle the protest is a deliberate distraction from ongoing scrutiny surrounding the release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
The protest began with Thomas, who maintained the demonstration until his death in 2009, when Philipos Melaku-Bello took over leadership. Signs remain at the site bearing slogans like “Live with the bomb, die with the bomb.” Earlier this year, Republican congressman Jeff van Drew criticized the protest’s presence, stating, “Americans have the full right to protest against their government, but they do not have the right to hijack a National Park and to disfigure it 24/7.” Proponents countered, citing constitutional rights to protest.
Following Trump’s call for action, Lafayette Park was closed off by White House security and Park Police, leading to the activists’ temporary evacuation. Though, the tent itself was left undisturbed. Melaku-Bello, speaking from the edge of the park, accused authorities of a diversionary tactic, stating, “They just do everything so that we don’t keep asking for the publication of the Epstein documents.”
The protest’s future remains uncertain as Melaku-Bello and supporters await further developments. Trump previously “aimed his arrows” at issues he believes detract from the capital’s appeal, including homelessness, and has sought to utilize the National Guard to assist local law enforcement.
