from ZeroHedge:

Despite almost blanket coverage amid the liberal mainstream media claiming that Trump’s so-called “photo-op” was led by police clearing streets with tear gas and flash-bangs – and universally decried by every talking head on TV and social media – the ‘real news’ is that nothing of the sort happened at all and the media made it all up… again!!!

As The Epoch Times’ Mimi Nguyen Ly reports, authorities did not use tear gas in efforts to hold back protesters, some of whom were violent, at Lafayette Park ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to St. John’s Church on Monday, according to the United States Park Police’s (USPP) acting chief.

“No tear gas was used by USPP officers or other assisting law enforcement partners to close the area at Lafayette Park,” Gregory Monahan said in a statement released on Tuesday. Monahan’s account contradicts media reports from the day that said tear gas was used to dispel demonstrators prior to Trump’s trip to the church, which was damaged by arsonists amid late-night protests on Sunday.

At 6:33 p.m. violent protesters on H Street NW started to throw “projectiles including bricks, frozen water bottles, and caustic liquid,” Monahan said.

“The protesters also climbed onto a historic building at the north end of Lafayette Park that was destroyed by arson days prior.”

Officers found “caches of glass bottles, baseball bats, and metal poles hidden along the street,” and that “intelligence had revealed calls for violence against the police,” Monahan added. To stop the violence, the USPP followed “established policy” and issued three warnings over a loudspeaker telling the demonstrators on H Street to leave the area, Monahan said.

“Horse mounted patrol, Civil Disturbance Units, and additional personnel were used to clear the area,” the USPP acting chief continued.

“As many of the protesters became more combative, continued to throw projectiles, and attempted to grab officers’ weapons, officers then employed the use of smoke canisters and pepper balls.”

Read More @ ZeroHedge.com