WASHINGTON, DC -- DC Mayor Muriel Bowser responded this morning to demonstrators who gathered outside the White House Friday night, protesting the death of George Floyd.
"We are grieving hundreds of years of institutional racism," Bowser said. "People are tired, sad, angry and desperate for change."
Friday night, the White House was placed under lockdown as more than 200 demonstrators gathered outside the gates. The lockdown was lifted and Secret Service reopened entrances and exits after an hour as protesters moved on.
Demonstrators were face-to-face with Secret Service agents and police officers in riot gear near the front lawn Friday night. Some of the protestors threw objects toward the security line but there hasn't been much in the way of violence.
This is one of several protests across the nation over George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while in police custody in Minneapolis. Many were heard chanting "no justice, no peace" and "black lives matter."
President Trump responded to the Minneapolis protests earlier this week in two controversial tweets, prompting the social media platform to flag his statements.
Bowser responding to the tweets said, "I thought the president's remarks were gross."
Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says he's fully mobilizing the National Guard after another night of violent protests in Minneapolis over the death of George Floyd in police custody.
Walz vowed to use all available resources for the protection of citizens and property. The order comes after a fourth night of riots and chaos in the state's largest city despite an 8 p.m. curfew.