In Pictures

In Pictures: Anti-racism protesters pepper-sprayed in the US

Police disperse protesters who tried to pull down the statue of former US President Andrew Jackson near the White House.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 22: Protesters attempt to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square near the White House on June 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. Protests continue around the country — Protesters tie ropes around the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square near the White House. [Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images/AFP]

A crowd of protesters tried to topple the statue of a former US president near the White House on Monday evening as police responded with pepper spray to break up new demonstrations that erupted in Washington, DC.

A wave of nationwide rallies calling for racial justice has swept the United States since the May 25 police killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

On Monday, hundreds of protesters were pushed back by at least 100 security force personnel after they had thrown ropes around the statue of Andrew Jackson, the divisive seventh US president, in Lafayette Square.

Jackson, in office from 1829 to 1837, owned more than 500 slaves over his lifetime and was a key figure in the Trail of Tears, the forced relocation of nearly 100,000 Native Americans.

The clash over Jackson’s statue is part of the latest movement in the protests: tearing down statues and monuments to individuals linked to the US’ racist past.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 22: (EDITOR''S NOTE: Image contains profanity.) Protesters clash with U.S. Park Police after protesters attempted to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square nea — Protesters clash with US Park Police after the attempt to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson. [Tasos Katopodis /Getty Images/AFP]

U.S. Park Police officers deploy pepper spray as they clash with protestors during an attempt to pull down the statue of U.S. President Andrew Jackson in the middle of Lafayette Park in front of the W — Park Police officers responded with pepper spray to break up the demonstrations. [Joshua Roberts/Reuters]

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 22: Protesters clash with U.S. Park Police after protesters attempted to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square near the White House on June 22, 2020 in Washi — President Donald Trump warned that vandalizing the statue could be punishable with jail time. [Tasos Katopodis /Getty Images/AFP]

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 22: A woman reacts to being hit with pepper spray as protesters clash with U.S. Park Police after they attempted to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square nea — A woman reacts to being hit with pepper spray as protesters were pushed back by at least 100 security force personnel. [Tasos Katopodis /Getty Images/AFP]

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 22: A man is tended to after being hit with pepper spray as protesters clash with U.S. Park Police after they attempted to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Squ — A man is tended to after being hit with pepper spray. [Tasos Katopodis /Getty Images/AFP]

A protestor stands in front of a line of U.S. Park Police riot police as the two sides face off at Lafayette Park in front of the White House after police clashed with demonstrators trying to pull dow — The clash over Jackson's statue is part of the latest movement in the protests: tearing down statues and monuments to individuals linked to the US' racist past. [Tom Brenner/Reuters]