Planned rallies in Washington, DC this week in support of Donald Trump ahead of Congress' certification of the Electoral College votes saw bouts of violence and several arrests in the District on Tuesday night.
The city's mayor, police chief and other emergency management partners have announced an "all-hands on deck" situation in response to the rallies. The pro-Trump supports plan to protest the certification of the votes which would formally seal Joe Biden as the next President of the United States. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has called upon the DC National Guard to help with crowd and traffic control.
Authorities have warned that firearms will be forbidden in the city, however several arrests related to assault, illegal guns and other illegal weapons were made Tuesday night.
Researchers believe that the tensions in the political sphere are being fueled by President Trump's repeated claims that the election was fraudulent. According to the Washington Post, posts on the social media platform Parler and the website thedonald.win have used anti-police language and have encouraged protestors to "come armed."
Many protestors gathered in Freedom Plaza in support of President Trump. Trump, in response, tweeted his support to them.
Multiple videos were uploaded to Twitter Tuesday night depicting violence that erupted in the city. One video appears to show "MAGA and Proud Boys" fighting DC police, and another claims to show a woman getting hit in the face during a violent outbreak.
President Trump plans to speak to his supporters on Wednesday at 11am during a "Save America Rally" on the Ellipse, south of the White House.
Sources: FOX5DC, The Washington Post, FOX News