Masked protesters pulled newspaper boxes across K Street to attempt to block officers. Demonstrators rhythmically drummed on the metal boxes and others shouted expletives against Trump.
Dozens of people fled and many could be seen coughing uncontrollably.
Police surrounded a group of about two dozen protesters by 2:10 p.m. at the corner of 12th and L Street NW.
“Let them go! Let them go!” the crowd chanted.
A large group of protesters had converged on the area earlier in the afternoon but were surrounded by police. Altogether 90 protesters were arrested, police said, after “an organized group” engaged in vandalism and “destroyed property of multiple businesses” along the K Street corridor.
One protester, who identified as part of the “black bloc,” said that many of those who converged in the afternoon had broken through the earlier police line and escaped.
“They don’t want them sighted and released back into the protest,” the protester said.
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