Democratic lawmakers evacuated from party headquarters in Washington amid protest

Protestors calling for a ceasefire to the war in Gaza clashed with police outside the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C.

Capitol Police said they had to "keep back" 150 people who were "illegally and violently" protesting outside the DNC.

The Jewish Voice for Peace lobby group however accused police of violently suppressing peaceful protesters calling for a ceasefire to the war in Gaza.

"Within moments tonight in Washington DC, police violently assaulted peaceful anti-war protestors calling for a #CeasefireNOW," the group said.

“Cops are assaulting peaceful anti-war protesters in front of @TheDemocrats HQ,” one person wrote on social media platform X.

SHAMEFUL. Cops are assaulting peaceful anti-war protesters in front of @TheDemocrats HQ.

This mutifaith and multiracial group from @JvpAction @IfNotNowOrg @DemSocialists and more there to represent the 80% of Democrats who are demanding a #ceasefirenow in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/hSABvjEWTd
— beth miller (@beth_avedon) November 16, 2023

The demonstration coincided with a meeting of a group of seven members of Congress inside the headquarters, including minority leader Hakeem Jeffries. On social media, Democratic lawmakers said the protestors had trapped them inside.

Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman accused the protestors of pepper spraying police officers and attempting to storm the building. He said on social media platform X that he had to be evacuated by police.

Congressman Sean Casten said he was “evacuated” from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee office after the building was surrounded by protestors “who had blocked all modes of ingress and egress”.