US protests: Claims priests tear gassed to clear way for Donald Trump to visit church

A bishop and a rector have claimed they were assaulted by police and forced away from a church so the President could pose with a bible.

Priests have claimed they were tear gassed so US President Donald Trump could pose with a bible outside a Washington DC church.

The rector of St John's Church in Lafayette Square, close to the White House, said she was driven off the property by police to clear the way for a visit by Trump.

Church staff said they had no warning of the visit and were “appalled at the violent clearing” of the area.

St John’s is known as “the church of presidents” because every president beginning with James Madison has attended a service there.

RELATED: What rubber bullet did to woman’s face

RELATED: NBA calls out ‘cowardly’ Trump

The venue was caught in the middle of mass protests being staged at Lafayette Square and was damaged on Sunday night.

On Monday, Trump said he was revolted by the video of George Floyd lying prone with a police officer’s knee on his neck and justice would be served.

He told Americans he was "your president of law and order” and an “ally of all peaceful protesters” but would deploy the military if violent protesters were not quelled by state authorities.

US President Donald Trump holds a Bible outside St John's Church across from the White House after the area was cleared of people protesting the death of George Floyd. Picture: Brendan Smialowski / AFP.

According to some reports, the President was riled by suggestions he had fled to the White House bunker as people protested outside and wanted to be seen on the streets of DC.

However, there are claims peaceful protesters were tear gassed and shot at with rubber bullets prior to Trump’s arrival to clear a path to the church.

Trump loyalist Senator Marco Rubio said the protesters were “professional agitators” who were refusing to disperse to provoke police.

But in a Facebook post, Rector Gini Gerbasi, said the church knew nothing of Trump’s visit and she was “shaken” by the police actions.

Ms Gerbasi said she had been passing out water and snacks to peaceful protesters on the patio area of the church with other fellow clergy when police began clearing people away from the park about 6.15pm.

Police used tear gas to disperse protesters and priests prior to President Trump’s arrival despite claims all protesters were acting peacefully. Picture: Jose Luis Magana / AFP.

"We were literally DRIVEN OFF of the St. John's, Lafayette Square patio with tear gas and concussion grenades and police in full riot gear," Ms Gerbasi wrote.

She said she couldn't believe it when she found out they had been driven away from the site so that Trump could get a photo.

"PEOPLE WERE HURT SO THAT HE COULD POSE IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH WITH A BIBLE!

"HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO STEP OVER THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES WE LEFT BEHIND BECAUSE WE WERE BEING TEAR GASSED!!!!"

Friends, I am ok, but I am, frankly shaken. I was at St. John's, Lafayette Square most of the afternoon, with fellow...

Posted by Gini Gerbasi on Monday, 1 June 2020

Ms Gerbasi said she was deeply shocked.

"I am shaken, not so much by the taste of tear gas and the bit of a cough I still have, but by the fact that that show of force was for a PHOTO OPPORTUNITY.

"The patio of St. John's had been HOLY GROUND today. A place of respite and laughter and water and granola bars and fruit snacks.

“But that man turned it into a BATTLE GROUND first, and a cheap political stunt second.

"I am DEEPLY OFFENDED on behalf of every protester, every Christian, the people of St. John's every decent person there, and the BLM medics who stayed with just a single box of supplies and a backpack, even when I got too scared and had to leave. I am OK.

"But I am now a force to be reckoned with."

Military police members hold a perimeter near the White House. Picture: Olivier DOULIERY / AFP.

The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington also sharply criticised Mr Trump.

The Reverend Mariann Budde, whose diocese St. John’s belongs to, said in a statement on Monday (Washington time) that she was “outraged” by Trump’s visit and noted that he didn’t pray while stopping by the church.

“He took the symbols sacred to our tradition and stood in front of a house of prayer in full expectation that would be a celebratory moment,” Rev Budde said.

“There was nothing I could do but speak out against that,” she added, calling for a focus on “the deeper wounds of the country”.

Rev Budde said the church was “just completely caught off-guard” by the visit, with “no sense that this was a sacred space to be used for sacred purposes”.

Many in the media fell for the calculated & deliberate tactics of professional agitators.

They knew the street needed to be cleared before 7pm curfew.

But they deliberately stayed to trigger police action & get the story they wanted, that “police attacked peaceful protestors.”

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) June 1, 2020

While the church's basement was damaged by fire she said they could rebuild.

“We can replace the furnishings of a nursery,” she said, referring to the damaged area. “We can’t bring a man’s life back.”

In a Facebook post, St John's Church said it was "appalled" at the events.

"We at St. John’s Church were shocked at the surprise visit from the President this evening and even more appalled at the violent clearing of Lafayette Square to make the visit possible," the post said.

We at St. John’s Church were shocked at the surprise visit from the President this evening and even more appalled at the...

Posted by St. John's Church, Lafayette Square on Monday, 1 June 2020

"We stand with those peacefully protesting the tragic and unnecessary death of George Floyd, and the far too many who came before him.