Military forces deployed around the US capital

The United States has deployed about 1,600 troops to military bases around Washington, D.C., to support security forces in dealing with the protests if necessary. Trump has threatened to mobilize the military against the protesters.

US military police and infantry units have been deployed around Washington to support security forces in possible clashes with protesters, if necessary.

A spokesman for the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced on Tuesday evening (June 2) that these units were dispatched to the capital on the orders of Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

According to the Associated Press, military units "with full weapons" have been moved from various bases around Washington.

President Donald Trump threatened on Monday (June 1) that he would call in “thousands of fully armed military troops” to quell the unrest if the protests continued.

According to experts, the president's use of military forces in response to citizen protests is a legal measure, but it fuels the tense atmosphere and worsens the situation.

Continued protests and clashes

Protests against racial discrimination continue in many American cities following the death of George Floyd, a black American citizen. Military helicopters flew low over protesters on Tuesday evening.

In some areas, protests led to violent confrontations with police. The largest gatherings occurred in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, New York, and Washington.

As night fell and darkness fell, despite the announcement of a curfew in many cities, the protests turned violent, in some cases leading to clashes and looting.

Some protesters looted luxury stores on New York's Fifth Avenue, and a group of young people set fire to a shopping mall in Los Angeles.