Protesters try to topple statue near White House

Protesters try to topple statue near White House

Protesters tried to tear down a statue of former U.S. President Andrew Jackson on Monday (June 22) near the White House, scrawling "killer scum" on the base and pulling at ropes around the figure of Jackson on a horse before police intervened.

Libby Hogan reports.

With ropes tied around his horse, protesters tried to pull down the statue of former U.S President Andrew Jackson on Monday (June 22) near the White House, but were ultimately driven back by police.

Video showed demonstrators climbing on the bronze statue in Lafayette Square, and scrawling "killer scum" on its base in the latest bid to destroy images of historical figures considered racist.

Police in riot gear then moved in on protesters to drive them back, led by U.S Park Police, swinging batons and firing chemical agents to drive back protesters.

By dark, police had taken control and outnumbered demonstrators.

Native American activists have long criticized Jackson, the seventh U.S. president, for signing the Indian Removal Act, in which thousands of people were driven from their land by the government and died during a forced march West in what was called the "Trail of Tears." President Donald Trump tweeted that numerous people had been arrested for what he called "the disgraceful vandalism."