Less police force as peaceful protests push reform; Romney marches in D.C.

WASHINGTON – A day after thousands of people filled the streets of Washington and other cities to demand action against police brutality and systemic racism, local and national figures on Sunday moved to further de-escalate tensions, with President Donald Trump pulling back the National Guard and more cities – including New York, Philadelphia and Chicago – lifting curfews.

As Americans again turned out for what researchers are calling the most sweeping and sustained protests in the country’s history, the steps taken by leaders in Washington and elsewhere were a reflection of the fact that the demonstrations, which were initially marked by confrontations and violence, have become more peaceful even as several cities saw their largest-ever crowds.

Trump announced Sunday morning that he was ordering National Guard troops to begin withdrawing from the nation’s capital, the morning after more than 10,000 people marched through the District of Columbia in what was mostly a festive day of demonstrations.

“I have just given an order for our National Guard to start the process of withdrawing from Washington, D.C., now that everything is under perfect control,” Trump tweeted.

“They will be going home, but can quickly return, if needed,” he warned. “Far fewer protesters showed up last night than anticipated!”

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, cited the weekend’s protests, which took place with no major clashes between police and demonstrators, in announcing an immediate end to his city’s curfew, which had been set to expire Monday morning.

“Yesterday and last night we saw the very best of our city,” the mayor said on Twitter early Sunday. “Tomorrow we take the first big step to restart. Keep staying safe. Keep looking out for each other.”

A number of local politicians had called on de Blasio to lift the curfew – the city’s first in 77 years – and on Friday, civil rights groups threatened to sue the mayor if he extended his order.

Officials in Chicago; Dallas; Sacramento, Calif.; Indianapolis; Orlando, Fla.; and Buffalo, N.Y., also announced that they would lift their curfews, citing few instances of violence and arrests.

The de-escalation came after more than a week of nationwide protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died on Memorial Day after a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into his neck for more than eight minutes.

Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who pinned Floyd to the ground, faces second- and third-degree murder charges, and three other former officers who were at the scene face charges of aiding and abetting the killing.

Trump is set to hold a roundtable with law enforcement today – the same day his presumptive general-election rival, former vice president Joe Biden, is expected to meet privately with members of Floyd’s family in Houston.

Biden is also recording a video message that will play at the funeral, according to his campaign. He is not planning to attend the service, citing his Secret Service detail and not wanting to disrupt the ceremony.

As the president was tweeting Sunday, more demonstrators were headed toward the White House – which is almost surrounded by more than a mile of fencing – for a 10th day of protests.

Among those who joined the crowds was Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who told The Washington Post that he was marching because he is committed to “finding a way to end violence and brutality and to make sure that people understand that black lives matter.”

Romney, the 2012 GOP nominee for president, is the highest-profile Republican to be seen participating in the protests in Washington.

On Saturday afternoon, organizers with Black Lives Matter spray-painted the words “Defund the Police” in large yellow block letters near the mural the city had installed at the newly named Black Lives Matter Plaza on 16th Street NW.

Asked whether the city will remove the defunding message, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, on Sunday said she had not had the opportunity to review the matter.

“We certainly encourage expression, but we are using the city streets for city art,” Bowser said in an appearance on ABC News’ “This Week.” She added that “the response that we’ve gotten from people about the Black Lives Matter mural has just been incredible.”