The United States Capitol Police released the name of a protester arrested outside of the Democratic National Committee headquarters on Wednesday night during a pro-Palestinian demonstration they characterized as "not peaceful."
Authorities took Ruben Arthur Camacho, 24, of Woodbridge, New York, into custody on one count of assault on a police officer. Capitol Police said on Thursday in a statement that an officer witnessed Camacho slamming another officer into a garage door and also punched a female officer in the face.
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"Last night our team was quick, decisive, courageous, and in control," Capitol Police said. "When demonstrations cross the line into illegal activity it is our responsibility to maintain order and ensure people’s safety."
The protest came after approximately 200 people gathered in front of the DNC building to call for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. The protesters barricaded themselves in front of the doors to prevent anyone from entering or exiting.
"We have handled hundreds of peaceful protests, but last night’s group was not peaceful," Capitol Police said. "The crowd failed to obey our lawful orders to move back from the DNC, where Members of Congress were in the building."
USCP said protesters attempted to pick up the bike rack to prevent officers from reaching members of Congress, causing officers to begin "pulling people off the building, pushing them back, and clearing them from the area." Capitol Police said six officers were treated for injuries ranging from minor cuts to being pepper sprayed or punched.
Jewish Voice for Peace, which supports a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, said in a statement on Thursday that "police violently attacked nonviolent anti-war activists" who were holding a vigil outside of a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee event, pushing back on the accounts of USCP and Democratic lawmakers. JVP member Jeff Ordower alleged police gave no warning and then rushed demonstrators.
“We've been doing actions in D.C. for decades and have never had police refuse to talk to a police liaison," he said.
Several Democratic lawmakers were inside the DNC during the protest. One present House Democrat said the protest "scared me more than Jan. 6." Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL), who was also inside, posted on X that blocking all entrances put both protesters and police at risk, calling it "irresponsible and dangerous," while noting that the USCP officers had lived through the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), also present, called the protesters "pro-terrorist" and "anti-Israel" and thanked USCP officers for their efforts to get him and his colleagues out safely.
The protest was the latest display against the war in the Middle East, as several left-leaning groups and pro-Palestinian people have called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Israel has been launching counterattacks against Hamas since the terrorist group launched its own attacks on the Jewish state on Oct. 7. Progressive lawmakers such as Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who is the only Palestinian American in Congress, have called for an end to the "occupation" of Israel and increased humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
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The DNC protest also came one day after nearly 300,000 people arrived in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to participate in a peaceful "March for Israel" to condemn rising antisemitism.
According to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Ministry of Health, Israeli strikes have killed over 11,000 Palestinians in the enclave since the war began. More than 1,200 people, many of them civilians, have been killed on the Israeli side.