Decades-Long Peace Vigil Outside the White House Removed Following Trump's Order

The peace vigil that stood for over four decades outside the White House was dismantled after President Trump's directive. Officials cited safety concerns while misclassifying the vigil as a shelter.

Law enforcement officials dismantled a peace vigil outside the White House on Sunday. This vigil had been in place for over 40 years. President Donald Trump ordered its removal as part of efforts to clear homeless encampments in Washington, D.C. Philipos Melaku-Bello, a long-time volunteer at the vigil, reported that Park Police removed it early that morning.

Melaku-Bello argued that officials wrongly labelled the vigil as a shelter to justify its removal. "The difference between an encampment and a vigil is that an encampment is where homeless people live," he explained. "As you can see, I don't have a bed. I have signs and it is covered by the First Amendment right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression."

Trump Administration's Actions

The White House confirmed the removal, stating it posed a hazard to visitors in the area. This action is part of broader measures by the Trump administration to enforce federal control over policing in the city, initiated last month. The administration defended these actions as necessary under Trump's executive order aimed at "beautifying" Washington, D.C.

Melaku-Bello expressed his intention to consult with attorneys regarding what he perceives as a civil rights violation. He believes officials mischaracterised the vigil to align with Trump's agenda of removing encampments. "They're choosing to call a place that is not an encampment an encampment just to fit what is in Trump's agenda of removing the encampments," he said.

Historical Significance of the Vigil

The peace vigil was established in 1981 by activist William Thomas to advocate for nuclear disarmament and peace. It is considered the longest-running anti-war protest in U.S. history. After Thomas passed away in 2009, other activists like Melaku-Bello continued to maintain the vigil, ensuring it wasn't dismantled by authorities.

The small but persistent protest caught Trump's attention during a White House event on Friday. Brian Glenn, a correspondent for Real America's Voice, described the blue tent as an "eyesore" for White House visitors. He stated, "Just out front of the White House is a blue tent that originally was put there to be an anti-nuclear tent for nuclear arms," adding that it had become more anti-American and sometimes anti-Trump.

Controversy Surrounding Removal

Trump claimed he was unaware of the vigil's presence and instructed his staff: "Take it down. Take it down today, right now." Melaku-Bello accused Glenn of spreading misinformation by suggesting the tent harboured rats and could pose a national security risk by concealing weapons.

"No weapons were found," Melaku-Bello told AP. He refuted claims about rats, noting that none appeared during the removal process. The dismantling of this historic protest site marks another chapter in ongoing tensions between activists and federal authorities.

With inputs from PTI