When Turkish President Recep Erdogan visited the United States for a conference in Washington D.C. last year, his bodyguards were restrained by the Secret Service after assaulting protestors. They were reminded about where they were, in America, and told to stop.
Yesterday Erdogan visited the White House and met with President Donald Trump. Later in the day his bodyguards violently beat a number of protestors, American citizens, outside of the Turkish Embassy.
Men who beat protesters at the embassy of Turkey in Washington D.C. were bodyguards of Pres. Erdogan - BNO pic.twitter.com/jOkD2Bov3n
— Breaking News (@BreakingNLive) May 17, 2017
On American soil!
— The Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) May 17, 2017
Erdogan's bodyguard violently kicks a helpless bloodied lady.
This guy should be expelled today!@StateDept @marcorubio pic.twitter.com/FQPbXnvbbI
As you can see in the video, D.C. police did what they could to stop the violence. Nine people were severely injured and sent to the hospital.
"The actions seen outside the Turkish Embassy yesterday in Washington D.C. stand in contrast to the First Amendment rights and principles were work tirelessly to protect each and every day. The Metropolitan Police Department made two arrests follwing yesterday's incidents and we have every intention to pursue charges against the other individuals involved. We will continue to work with our partners at the United States Department and United States Secret Service to identify and hold all subject accountable for their involvement int he altercation," the department released in a statement Wednesday.
The State Department was quiet for nearly 24 hours after the incident occurred yesterday. A statement was finally issued Wednesday afternoon without direct acknowledgement of Erdogan's responsibility for the situation.
"We are concerned by the violent incidents involving protestors and Turkish security personnel Tuesday evening. Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free expression and peaceful protest," State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert released in a statement. "We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest terms possible."
The White House has failed to respond to the incident and hasn't yet issued a response.
In Turkey, Erdogan has arrested thousands of journalists and has issued threats to their families. Protestors and other political opponents are also jailed.