Capital Police Officer Punches Protester, Sparking “Pepper Spray Battle” at U.S. Capitol building

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tensions escalated between D.C. Capitol Police and American protesters at the Capitol Building.  A video posted to Twitter today shows an African American Capitol police officer throwing a punch at a protester across a barricade.  That engagement led to both police and protesters pepper spraying each other.  Afterward, protesters broke through the barriers entering the nation’s Capitol building.