Things got tense in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday night when two people were arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer near Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign rally at the Ellipse. As crowds gathered just south of the White House to hear Harris speak, the arrests occurred around 7:00 p.m.—just before she took the stage at 7:40 p.m.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the incident began when one of the suspects—a woman—attempted to cross a police line near the intersection of 15th Street and Constitution Avenue, close to the rally’s perimeter. When officers tried to remove her, she reportedly resisted and assaulted one of the officers. As this unfolded, a second individual—a man—allegedly approached from behind and also attacked officers. Fortunately, the officers were unharmed, and both suspects were arrested without further incident, facing charges of assaulting a police officer.
Anti-Israel protesters banged pots and pans and broke out into jeers and when “Killer Kamala” took the stage in DC, chanting “shame” and “shut it down!”
I’m on the ground for @realDailyWire: pic.twitter.com/4l4sbG0MIQ
— Spencer Lindquist 🇺🇸 (@SpencerLndqst) October 30, 2024
It’s still unclear if these individuals were connected to the rally, protesters, or just unrelated passersby. The campaign event itself wasn’t entirely without tension, as pro-Palestinian demonstrators were present in the crowd. Protesters were spotted wearing keffiyehs and holding signs with messages like “Stop Arming Israel” and “Stop U.S. Funding of Israeli Apartheid.” Although MPD confirmed at least one protester was detained, they have not provided additional information about the nature or number of arrests tied to the demonstration.
DC: Pro-Palestine protesters chant “Intifada Intifada!” as they draw out sound of Kamala Harris speech in front part of the National mall, the overflow location of tonight’s rally.
Harris supporters rushed back through barricades to get further away from the protest, to hear VP… pic.twitter.com/KiLf21wNhC
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) October 30, 2024
Meanwhile, the rally also sparked some online drama. The Lincoln Project stirred controversy with a post on X (formerly Twitter) referencing Trump’s past use of the Ellipse. Their message praised Harris for holding her event there, saying, “Four years ago, Trump made it a crime scene, but tonight Kamala is making it the launchpad for a new way forward.” The timing of the post raised eyebrows, given the fresh reports of arrests and disturbances just outside the rally’s perimeter.
While Harris used the Ellipse as a backdrop for her rally to promote unity and change, the arrests and protests surrounding the event underscore just how charged the political atmosphere remains in D.C. With heightened emotions on all sides, moments like these reveal how unpredictable—and combustible—the political landscape is, especially as high-stakes events unfold in the run-up to the election.