PodcastErdoğan's visit to Washington sparks protests
A group of protesters held a demonstration at noon on Nov. 13 at Lafayette Park, across from the White House, to protest Turkish President Erdoğan's visit to the U.S. The last time Erdoğan visited Washington, his bodyguards were caught on video beating demonstrators at Sheridan Circle.
Duvar English
A group of demonstrators staged a rally in protest of a visit by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan near the White House in Washington D.C. on Nov. 13.
The demonstration started at 12.00 p.m. EST at Lafayette Park, across from the White House. Groups that called on their members to join the demonstration included the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), American Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association (AHEPA), American Hellenic Institute, In Defense of Christians, Armenian Youth Federation and American Rojava Center for Democracy.
Following the meeting at 12.00 p.m. EST at Lafayette Park, protesters were set to go to Sheridan Circle, a large grassy roundabout near the Turkish ambassador's residence, in the heart of Washington's embassy district. This site had made the headlines on May 16, 2017 after videos recorded Erdoğan's bodyguards attacking protesters, prompting outrage both within the U.S. and in the international arena.
While Turkish authorities say that the demonstrators were supporters of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group designated as a terrorist organization by both NATO allies, and the aim was to protect Erdoğan, criminal charges were directed against the Turkish president’s guards.
Two Turkish security guards were briefly detained after the incident, but were soon allowed to return to Turkey. Several months later, 19 people, including 15 Turkish security officials, were indicted in connection with the incident. But in the spring of 2018, charges were dropped against 11 of the Turkish bodyguards. Twenty of the victims are suing the Turkish government for damages, in two separate lawsuits.
When asked about their security plans this time, D.C. police Chief Peter Newsham said his department “will take every measure possible to make sure we don’t have another conflict like we had the last time,” according to The Washington Post on Nov. 8.
He said his staff has been in contact with the State Department, according to the newspaper.