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These groups include Hongkongers, Tibetans, Uyghurs, democracy activists, and practitioners of the spiritual discipline Falun Gong. Many have families or friends detained in China for their advocacy or beliefs.
The demonstrations were largely peaceful. But on two occasions, Epoch Times reporters witnessed the pro-Beijing camp getting into a melee with the other side.
On Friday, as Xi arrived at the National Archives for a tour, masked Chinese regime supporters also tried to wrestle a flag from a pro-democracy protester’s hand. As he resisted, they hemmed him in and attempted to snatch the flag pole away until the police intervened. An Epoch Times staffer nearby was hit on the head during the scuffle.
Wang Xue, a Chinese activist, showed The Epoch Times his hand injury after a brawl with pro-Beijing supporters. In a video he shared with The Epoch Times, a man wearing a red badge emerged from a group holding Chinese flags, and threw a punch at Wang’s face. Wang used his hand to parry the blow.
A projected photo of Ilham Tohti, an Uyghur scholar arbitrarily detained and held incommunicado since 2017, is displayed on the building of the National Gallery of Art as Chinese leader Xi Jinping visits Washington on Sept. 23, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Sept. 23, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times
U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Sept. 23, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times
The faces and occupations of some political prisoners held in China are displayed on trucks as Chinese leader Xi Jinping participates in a state visit to Washington on Sept. 23, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Fei Feng Lou, whose husband was forced to divorce her in China, and her son Runxin Wang hold signs at a rally held by Falun Gong practitioners to demand an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of the spiritual practice, during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington on Sept. 24, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
The Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington on Sept. 23, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
A pro-democracy activist holds up an anti-Chinese Communist Party flag during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s arrival at the National Archives in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Chinese Communist Party supporters wrest a flag away from a pro-democracy activist around Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s arrival at the National Archives in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners hold a rally to demand an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of the spiritual practice during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington on Sept. 24, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Cheng Peiming, a Falun Gong practitioner who had his organs forcibly removed in China, shows his scars at a rally to demand an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Gong, during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington on Sept. 24, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a visit to the U.S. National Archives in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times
Pro-democracy activists protest Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit in front of the National Archives in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) speaks at a rally to demand an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Gong, during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington on Sept. 24, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
A Zhen Shan Red art exhibit is displayed as Falun Gong practitioners hold a rally to demand an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of the spiritual practice, during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington on Sept. 24, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Pro-democracy activists protest Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit in front of the National Archives in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners call for an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of the spiritual practice, during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington on Sept. 23, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Rushan Abbas, Campaign for Uyghurs executive director, participates in a Human Rights Foundation projection of photos of some political prisoners in China on the building of the National Gallery of Art, as Chinese leader Xi Jinping participates in a state visit to Washington on Sept. 23, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Pro-democracy activists protest Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit in front of the National Archives in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Pro-democracy activists protest Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit in front of the National Archives in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Pro-democracy activists protest Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit in front of the National Archives in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
U.S. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and his wife Peng Liyuan during a visit to the U.S. National Archives in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times
U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump depart after a visit to the U.S. National Archives with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times
Chen Guangcheng, a blind, self-taught lawyer from northeastern China, speaks through a translator at a rally to demand an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Gong, during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington on Sept. 24, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Pro-democracy activists protest Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit in front of the National Archives in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners perform the exercises during events to demand an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of the spiritual practice, during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington on Sept. 24, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
The faces and names of some political prisoners held in China are projected on the building of the National Gallery of Art as Chinese leader Xi Jinping visits Washington on Sept. 23, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Pro-democracy activists protest Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit in front of the National Archives in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners hold a candlelight vigil to call for an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of the spiritual practice, during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington on Sept. 24, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Ben Xue Wang, a member of the Chinese Democracy Party, displays his injury a day after being attacked by pro-Beijing protesters during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit in front of the National Archives in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Pro-democracy activists protest Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit in front of the National Archives in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners hold a candlelight vigil to call for an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of the spiritual practice, during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington on Sept. 24, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Xin Qin, a Falun Gong practitioner, displays her injuries a day after she was allegedly attacked by Chinese Communist Party supporters during a human rights demonstration in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Pro-democracy activists protest Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit in front of the National Archives in Washington on Sept. 25, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners perform the exercises at a rally demanding an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of the spiritual practice, during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington on Sept. 24, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Falun Gong practitioners hold a candlelight vigil to call for an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of the spiritual practice, during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington on Sept. 24, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
