#Up to 200,000 expected in DC for massive George Floyd protest

As many as 200,000 people are expected in Washington, DC, Saturday for a huge demonstration over the killing of George Floyd, the 46-year-old black man who died in police custody May 25.

“We have a lot of public, open source information to suggest that the event on this upcoming Saturday may be one of the largest we’ve ever had in the city,” Washington DC Police Chief Peter Newsham told local media.

Newsham did not give a crowd estimate. Local media has predicted tens of thousands of attendees, Reuters reported.

The US has been rocked by 12 days of protests and looting around the country following the death of Floyd, who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes. Cops and protesters clashed violently Monday night in DC when hundreds were arrested in the city but the demonstrations have been relatively peaceful since then.

Washington DC’s mayor and President Trump have been locked in a feud over whether out-of-state National Guard troops should stay in the District over the weekend.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, who had “Black Lives Matter” painted in big yellow letters across two blocks of 16th Street NW across from the White House, wants the troops gone but her authority is debatable because D.C. is federal territory.

“I am requesting you withdraw all extraordinary federal law enforcement and military presence in Washington, DC,” Bowser wrote in a letter to Trump Friday. “We are well equipped to handle large demonstrations and First Amendment activities.”

According to his tweet Friday, it’s doubtful Trump will honor Bowser’s request.

“The incompetent Mayor of Washington, D.C., @MayorBowser, who’s budget is totally out of control and is constantly coming back to us for ‘handouts,’ is now fighting with the National Guard, who saved her from great embarrassment over the last number of nights,” Trump tweeted. “If she doesn’t treat these men and women well, then we’ll bring in a different group of men and women!”