Tens of thousands of protesters in DC are met by troops outside 'fortress' White House after million-person march failed to materialize - as nation witnesses 12th day of George Floyd demonstrations

• Protests across the country show no signs of slowing down, as tens of thousands of people took to the streets for an 12th straight  day of demonstrations 
• The White House was transformed into a fortress, with black fences between seven and nine feet high erected and the National Guard surrounding the perimeter
• Saturday's rally in the nation's capital marked the largest George Floyd demonstration  in the 
• ountcry to date  
• D.C.'s mayor Muriel Bowser formally renamed the street outside 'Black Lives Matter Plaza'  
• The D.C. protests were joined by demonstrations in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Philadelphia, and several other areas across the US as well as major cities overseas including Sydney, Paris and London 
•  Mourners and protesters stood side by side as a memorial and public viewing for George Floyd's body was held in North Carolina   

President Donald Trump said Saturday's protests in Washington, DC drew a 'much smaller crowd' than expected, despite it being the largest demonstration against police brutality and racial injustice in the country since the death of George Floyd. 

Tens of thousands of people marched across the nation's capital and in cities across the country during the 12th day of demonstrations, with few reports of problems in scenes that were more often festive than tense.

Military vehicles and officers in combat clothing closed off much of downtown Washington to traffic ahead of the planned march, which authorities expected to attract between 200,000 and one million people.

Massive crowds turned out despite the risks still posed by the coronavirus, which has ravaged the country over the past two months and still presents a deadly threat, according to health experts. 

Official estimates on the total number of protesters have not been released, but attendance is believed to have been in the tens of thousands, far below the one million-person mark, but still a significant turnout. 

President Trump, who ordered authorities to crack down on unrest, confirmed on Twitter that the event was not as large as expected. 

'Much smaller crowd in D.C. than anticipated. National Guard, Secret Service, and D.C. Police have been doing a fantastic job. Thank you!' he tweeted. The president did not make a public appearance on Saturday and had no public events on his daily schedule.  

D.C. had braced itself with members of the National Guard guarding famous landmarks and patrolling a new pedestrian-only demonstration area where streets were closed off to all traffic.

The White House remained a fortress, with black fences between seven and nine feet high erected around its perimeter cutting off protesters. 

Nationwide protests have capped a week that began in chaos but ended with largely peaceful expressions that organizers hope will sustain their movement. 

Protesters, wearing masks and calling for police reform, gathered in dozens of places from coast to coast, as well as major cities overseas including London, Paris, Berlin and Sydney, collectively producing perhaps the largest one-day mobilization.

The marches coincided with a second memorial service in North Carolina for George Floyd, 46, who died on May 25 after a Minneapolis policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes and sparked days of violence and chaos across the country.

But this week, crowds in the US shifted to a calmer tenor and authorities in many cities began lifting curfews and taking a lower profile because they experienced little unrest and no arrests. 

WASHINGTON, DC

As night fell, thousands of protesters remained on the streets of the nation's capital, which had the largest turnout in the country this week. 

Following a week of chaos and violence on the streets that prompted a strict clampdown and even threats of military intervention from Trump, demonstrations at capital on Saturday were largely relaxed and festive. 

Go-go music - a distinctive D.C. offshoot of funk - blared from a truck that looked more like a parade float. Impromptu dance parties popped up.

A black man shared a fist bump with a black police officer. People used chalk to write messages of support on the street. 

Many remained protesting outside the White House near the newly renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza, where organizers were seen painting 'defund the police' on the road on 16th Street NW. 

The message has become a rallying cry among demonstrators calling for police reform and fighting against police brutality in the US.   

Earlier, crowds erupted in applause as Mayor Muriel Bowser walked along the portion of 16th Street that she formally renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza. 

Nationwide protests have capped a week that began in chaos but ended with largely peaceful expressions that organizers hope will sustain their movement. 

Protesters, wearing masks and calling for police reform, gathered in dozens of places from coast to coast, as well as major cities overseas including London, Paris, Berlin and Sydney, collectively producing perhaps the largest one-day mobilization.

The marches coincided with a second memorial service in North Carolina for George Floyd, 46, who died on May 25 after a Minneapolis policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes and sparked days of violence and chaos across the country.

But this week, crowds in the US shifted to a calmer tenor and authorities in many cities began lifting curfews and taking a lower profile because they experienced little unrest and no arrests. 

 

WASHINGTON, DC

As night fell, thousands of protesters remained on the streets of the nation's capital, which had the largest turnout in the country this week. 

Following a week of chaos and violence on the streets that prompted a strict clampdown and even threats of military intervention from Trump, demonstrations at capital on Saturday were largely relaxed and festive. 

Go-go music - a distinctive D.C. offshoot of funk - blared from a truck that looked more like a parade float. Impromptu dance parties popped up.

A black man shared a fist bump with a black police officer. People used chalk to write messages of support on the street. 

Many remained protesting outside the White House near the newly renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza, where organizers were seen painting 'defund the police' on the road on 16th Street NW. 

The message has become a rallying cry among demonstrators calling for police reform and fighting against police brutality in the US.   

Earlier, crowds erupted in applause as Mayor Muriel Bowser walked along the portion of 16th Street that she formally renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza. 

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: 'I can't breathe,' rung out as protesters lay down on 1st Avenue during the #SeattleJusticeForGeorgeFloyd march on Saturday

It also came a day after Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best imposed a 30-day moratorium on the department´s use of one kind of tear gas.

KING-TV reports that a small group of protesters started throwing objects at officers about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Police ordered the crowd to move, then used incendiary devices.

After police were severely criticized by protesters and public officials alike for using tear gas and pepper spray to disperse largely peaceful crowds, Durkan and Best said Friday outside groups would review and update crowd-control policies, including the use of pepper spray and deadly force techniques such as neck and choke holds. 

She and the mayor added that the ban on one kind of tear gas known as CS could be extended if groups need more time for policy review.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said Saturday she is encouraging protesters to be tested for COVID-19 after the city and King County public health departments expanded testing criteria to cover asymptomatic people who have attended large protests.