<\/p>\n
Philipos Melaku-Bello gestures the peace sign at the White House Peace Vigil in Lafayatte Park across the street from the White House in Washington, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (AP Photo\/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)<\/p>\n
Philipos Melaku-Bello gestures the peace sign at the White House Peace Vigil in Lafayatte Park across the street from the White House in Washington, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (AP Photo\/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)<\/p>\n
Read More<\/p>\n
\u201cThe difference between an encampment and a vigil is that an encampment is where homeless people live,\u201d Melaku-Bello said. \u201cAs you can see, I don\u2019t have a bed. I have signs and it is covered by the First Amendment right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression.\u201d<\/p>\n
The White House confirmed the removal, telling AP in a statement that the vigil was a \u201chazard to those visiting the White House and the surrounding areas.\u201d <\/p>\n
Taking down the vigil is the latest in a series of actions the Trump administration has ordered as part of its federal takeover of policing<\/a> in the city, which began last month. The White House has defended the intervention as needed to fulfill Trump\u2019s executive order on the \u201cbeautification\u201d of D.C. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Philipos Melaku-Bello flashes the V sign during Peace Vigil in Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo\/Jose Luis Magana)<\/p>\n Philipos Melaku-Bello flashes the V sign during Peace Vigil in Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo\/Jose Luis Magana)<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Melaku-Bello said he\u2019s in touch with attorneys about what he sees as a civil rights violation. \u201cThey\u2019re choosing to call a place that is not an encampment an encampment just to fit what is in Trump\u2019s agenda of removing the encampments,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n The vigil was started in 1981 by activist William Thomas to promote nuclear disarmament and an end to global conflicts. It is believed to be the longest continuous anti-war protest in U.S. history. When Thomas died in 2009, other protesters like Melaku-Bello manned the tiny tent and the banner, which read \u201cLive by the bomb, die by the bomb,\u201d around the clock to avoid it being dismantled by authorities. <\/p>\n The small but persistent act of protest was brought to Trump\u2019s attention during an event at the White House on Friday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n