Priest, among others, cleared by police upon Trump’s photo-op at St. John’s Church courtyard [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Church leaders criticized the forced clearing conducted by the riot police at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Monday.
• Trump was seen later walking at the church and posed for photos while holding a Bible.
• Several lawmakers condemned the clearing, and the D.C mayor calling the incident appalling.  

When President Donald Trump visited the patio of St. John’s Episcopal Church on Monday evening, police cleared the area ahead of the president’s arrival, and a priest was amongst those who were asked to move.

In a Facebook post, Rev. Gini Gerbasi said that she and other seminarians from the church were forced to leave the patio less than an hour before Trump’s arrival.

The courtyard clearing also happened during the police’s use of tear gas to clear Lafayette Square, which is outside of the White House, allowing Trump to walk going to the church.

Trump then arrived, and the media took pictures of him in front ofthe church clutching a Bible.

Gerbasi added that they were forced away off of the St. John’s Lafayette Square yard with tear gas and stun grenades by officers wearing full riot gear. He added that the police pushed them back 20 feet, overwhelmed by the concussion grenades.

Later, Gerbasi found out that Trump was having a photo op outside but the president did not go inside the church. The reverend said that the Lafayette square was supposed to be a holy spot but the president’s visit has turned the patio into a battleground with his political stunt.

The forced removal of Gerbasi, along with others, on Monday evening, was first reported by the Religious News Service.

The reverend told the outlet that no less than 20 other priests and laities were staying at the church to support protesters and promote peace. By the time riot police arrived, the group was seen giving out snacks, water, and hand sanitizers to the crowd, but they were asked to leave.

The crowd dispersal at St. John’s and in Lafayette Square happened before 7 p.m., only a few minutes prior to the scheduled city curfew.

During protests on Sunday, there was a reported small fire that been set in the church’s basement.

According to reports by Bloomberg News, Trump administration officials were planning to extend the perimeter around the White House on Monday. The plan, however, was not related to Trump’s walk toward St. John’s.

Rev. Mariann Budde, diocesan bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, told The Washington Post on Monday that they were not informed about the president’s plan to speak in front of the church.

While the White House has yet to comment about the clearing incident, they posted a video on Monday night showing Trump walking to the church patio, and stopping by while holding a bible.

The forced dispersal of people and peaceful protesters from the Lafayette Square was criticized by some mayors, legislators, and governors, with  D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser saying that the clearing was disgraceful.

Source: The Hill