Park Police chief insists tear gas wasn’t used despite reports 

The head of the U.S. Park Police (USPP) on Tuesday said police used pepper balls to move crowds demonstrating near the White House on Monday night, and took issue with reports that tear gas was used.

Acting USPP Chief Gregory Monahan said in a statement that smoke canisters and pepper balls were used to combat “violent” protesters. 

“As many of the protestors became more combative, continued to throw projectiles, and attempted to grab officers’ weapons, officers then employed the use of smoke canisters and pepper balls,” Monahan said. 

“No tear gas was used by USPP officers or other assisting law enforcement partners to close the area at Lafayette Park,” he said. 

The National Guard and other police also took part in clearing the space on Monday. 

A number of reporters took issue with the assertion that tear gas was not used. 

Hey Neal. I was there. Tear gas was definitely used, and park police can’t ‍♂️ that. And there was no object-throwing before the mounted park police moved in. Don’t want to tell you how to do your job, but using a background source to deny observable fact seems like a bad call.

— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) June 2, 2020

Park Police advanced down H St, or secret service & national guard were on the fence line of Lafayette park, occasionally firing pepper balls and less-lethal projectiles at protestors. On CS: experience. the burning sensation it caused in my lungs, & my retired marine security

— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) June 2, 2020

Yahoo’s Hunter Walker also stressed that protesters were “gassed” 

And @AugensteinWTOP you can see Park Police clearly in this clip in their blue helmets on horseback part of the group that cleared and gassed the protesters. I identified them in real time. They helped clear the park with gas just ahead of Trump’s church photo op. No question.

— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) June 2, 2020

A pepper ball is a projectile that includes a chemical that irritates the eyes. 

Reporters on the scene of the Monday night protest from The Hill and other news organizations reported seeing projectiles thrown by police, and experienced and interviewed people who experienced eye irritation. 

A number of reporters also pushed back at Monahan’s description of the protests.

CNN’s  Alexander Marquardt said protesters did not throw bricks or caustic liquids.

We didn’t see projectiles thrown at police. Certainly no bricks or “caustic liquids.” Sunday there was a lot thrown and they didn’t react like that. Park Police fired cannisters of smoke w/ an irritant that caused severe coughing/ choking + pepper spray rounds + flash bangs. https://t.co/Gc2uwpHu0j

— Alexander Marquardt (@MarquardtA) June 2, 2020

After the space was cleared, President Trump walked through the park and was photographed in front of the nearby St. John’s Church.

Trump was criticized over the actions taken against the protesters, including from some Republicans.

The USPP is overseen by the National Park Service, which is part of the Interior Department. 

Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), who chairs the House subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, And Public Lands, pledged to “demand answers about what happened” in a statement to The Hill. 

“The use of force against peaceful protesters so that President Trump could have a photo-op was absolutely unnecessary and an appalling abuse of power,” she said. 

Haaland and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) on Tuesday also requested a briefing on the incident from Park Police.