📍 Washington, D.C. — In a move that has stirred controversy and sorrow among peace activists and civil liberties advocates, law enforcement officials have dismantled the White House Peace Vigil—a quiet but resolute protest that stood for 44 years just steps from the seat of American power. The removal came after President Donald Trump ordered the site cleared, citing it as part of a broader initiative to eliminate homeless encampments across the capital.
The vigil, established in June 1981 by activist William Thomas, was not a shelter nor a camp—it was a living protest. Its purpose: to call for nuclear disarmament and an end to global conflict. Over the decades, it became a fixture of Lafayette Park, a modest tent adorned with banners reading “Live by the bomb, die by the bomb” and “Ban all nuclear weapons or have a nice doomsday.” It was staffed 24/7 by a rotating group of volunteers, most notably Philipos Melaku-Bello, who has been its steadfast guardian for years.
Melaku-Bello, who knew Thomas personally and continued the vigil after his death in 2009, was present when U.S. Park Police arrived early Sunday morning to dismantle the site. Officials claimed the vigil constituted a “shelter,” a classification Melaku-Bello vehemently rejected. “The difference between an encampment and a vigil is that an encampment is where homeless people live,” he said. “As you can see, I don't have a bed. I have signs, and it is covered by the First Amendment right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression.”
The order to remove the vigil was issued after a conservative media correspondent described the tent to President Trump as an “eyesore” and a potential security threat. Trump, reportedly unaware of the vigil’s existence, responded immediately: “Take it down. Take it down today, right now.” The White House later defended the action, calling the vigil a “hazard to those visiting the White House and the surrounding areas.”
The dismantling has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups, historians, and local activists, many of whom view the vigil as a sacred symbol of peaceful resistance and constitutional expression. Melaku-Bello has stated he is consulting with attorneys about what he believes to be a violation of civil rights and a misrepresentation of the vigil’s purpose.
This is not the first time the vigil has faced removal. In previous years, attempts to dismantle it were overturned, often after public outcry and legal challenges. Its endurance through seven presidencies and countless policy shifts made it a rare constant in the ever-changing landscape of American politics.
The vigil’s removal marks the end of the longest continuous anti-war protest in U.S. history. But its legacy—of quiet defiance, unwavering commitment, and the enduring power of free speech—will remain etched in the memory of Lafayette Park and in the hearts of those who believe that peace is worth standing for, day and night, year after year.
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