Horrific moment protester in MAGA hat re-creates George Floyd’s death in front of BLM sign on D.C. church steps
A MAN in a MAGA hat has controversially imitated the death of George Floyd just moments after a Washington DC church unfurled a Black Lives Matter banner.
The National City Christian Church in Thomas Circle rolled out the banner earlier today as MAGA supporters gathered in the nation’s capital for a Save America rally to protest what they claim is a rigged election.
Read our US Politics live blog for the latest news as the US Capitol building is put into lockdown
In a Twitter message the church wrote: “Our #blacklivesmatter banners have been hung, proclaiming the Gospel to Thomas Circle and our city.
“Political leaders may come and go; God’s truth is for all times and all places.”
Minutes after the banner had been unfurled two men were caught on film supposedly “recreating the death of George Floyd” on the church’s steps, according to NBC4 Washington executive producer Anthony Mague.
The men’s actions were widely condemned on social media.
One Twitter user described it as “absolutely disgusting”.
Another wrote: “Just awful people”.
A third said: “I never understand how people can be so cruel.”
Floyd died last year after former cop Derek Chauvin kneeled on the back of his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Floyd repeatedly said he couldn’t breathe, and died after being pinned to the ground after he was arrested after being accused of trying to use a $20 bill at a nearby deli.
It came as violent skirmishes broke out as angry Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol grounds, destroyed fences and battled cops.
Vice President Mike Pence was evacuated from the Capitol and the building put in lockdown.
The chaos came as members of Congress were meeting to vote and certify the election results.
The Trump supporters did not breach the congressional chambers, but the certification process was interrupted, with lawmakers told to take shelter.
Photos shared by Huffington Post reporter Igor Bobic showed demonstrators storming the US Capitol building from outside the Senate Chamber.
Demonstrators were seen arguing with cops as Senators were locked inside.
In one video shared by Elijah Schaffer, protesters were seen facing off with cops as they tried to access the building.
One cop appeared to be using a can of pepper spray in an attempt to move back demonstrators outside the Capitol.
Cops clad in riot gear pushed back against the protesters with their shields.
As demonstrators stormed the fences, video shared on social media showed protesters putting up a cross outside the Capitol.
A chaos ensued outside, staff were told to evacuate Capitol buildings.
Police reinforcements have been sent in to put an end to the disturbance and the sound of flashbangs could be heard.
Earlier in the day President Donald Trump had addressed the rally in an hour-long speech where he repeated his unsubstantiated claim the presidential vote had been rigged against him.
He told his supporters “We’ll never give up. We’ll never concede. We will not take it anymore.”
Trump insisted: “This was not a close election.”
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He later questioned: “Does anybody really believe Joe had 80million votes?”
Despite claims from Trump and his supporters, elections officials have repeatedly said there’s zero evidence of fraud that would alter the outcome of the election.
Trump then slammed late-night vote counting in the presidential election as “explosions of bulls***.”
