Decades-Old White House Peace Vigil Restored After Removal Order by Trump

A peace vigil that's stood for over four decades in front of the White House remains in place, video from September 9 shows, despite efforts by federal authorities to dismantle it on direct orders from https://archive.ph/WwgF7 President Donald Trump . The temporary dismantling of the vigil followed Trump's directive, which was prompted by a conservative media correspondent https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-take-it-down-trump-says-about-white-house-peace-vigil-that-has-stood-since-1981 describing its blue tarp shelter as an 'eyesore.' The protest was started in 1981 by the activist William Thomas, to advocate for nuclear disarmament. Officers arrived around 6:30 am on Sunday and ordered 24-year-old volunteer Will Roosien to remove the tarp. When he refused, he was handcuffed and the structure was dismantled, the Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/09/07/trump-peace-vigil-protest-taken-down/ reported . By that afternoon, longtime vigil supporter Philipos Melaku-Bello and others had already started rebuilding the vigil. The White House https://apnews.com/article/white-house-peace-vigil-trump-f9b4c8e3d81e7b1e2d4625f726d89bc2 told the AP that the vigil was a 'hazard to those visiting the White House and the surrounding areas.' (Footage by AMK Recording/Storyful via Getty Images UGC)