Police gather to remove demonstrators from the area around Lafayette Park and the White House before President Trump's walk to St.

Police gather to remove demonstrators from the area around Lafayette Park and the White House before President Trump's walk to St.

John's Church and Lafayette Park was full of people nonviolently protesting police brutality late Monday afternoon when U.S.

President Trump wanted to walk from the White House through the park to the Episcopal church.

The visit came just after Trump delivered remarks at the White House, declaring himself "your president of law and order" and demanding that governors deploy National Guard units and "dominate the streets.".

On this occasion, however, the president's visit was unannounced, and church authorities were furious that the White House did not bother to alert them.

John's Episcopal church across Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

John's Episcopal church across Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

The church has long been known for its support of social justice causes, and in the hours before the president showed up, clergy and lay volunteers had been ministering to the protesters in the plaza!

John's minister, Gini Gerbasi, was among those attending to the protesters in front of the church when the police moved in.

"PEOPLE WERE HURT SO THAT [President Trump] COULD HAVE A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH!!

John's minister, Gini Gerbasi, wrote on Facebook: "PEOPLE WERE HURT SO THAT [President Trump] COULD HAVE A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH!!

John's minister, Gini Gerbasi, wrote on Facebook: "PEOPLE WERE HURT SO THAT [President Trump] COULD HAVE A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH!!

John's Episcopal Church, lifted up a bible, and had pictures of himself taken," Curry said