DC Reverend Prays With Officer During Protest 'Standoff' Near White House

During Monday night's protest in Washington, D.C., Reverend George Gilbert concluded an amicable conversation with a U.S. Parks Police officer with a prayer.

Protesters clashed with police around the country and on Monday night, officers used tear gas to disperse a crowd defacing a statue of former President Andrew Jackson during a standoff near the White House. Gilbert, a reverend with Holy Trinity United Baptist Church, told Newsweek he posted a video of his conversation with the officer on Facebook to help people see a different side of the demonstrations and ended it with prayer because as a minister, he's hopeful things will improve even in dark times.

"Without struggle, things don't get better so we are still hopeful," Gilbert said. "We believe this is all somehow working for the good of the people in our nation and our world."

Gilbert started the prayer out with the acknowledgment that the world is "in a terrible place right now" and that no one has the answers or the solution to fix it. He asked that God bring healing and peace, protect protesters and officers and give the police department wisdom to understand they hold everyone's lives in their hands.

The prayer was only a minute snapshot of a larger conversation Gilbert had with the officer about current problems and future changes. It largely centered on a need for additional race relations training and help to ensure officers aren't just physically healthy, but emotionally and mentally healthy, as well.

"They have a job where mistakes just can't happen and to not address the mind and emotions from the police department standpoint on a mandatory basis is negligence," Gilbert told Newsweek. "When you hold a gun in your hand, when you hold other people's lives in your hands, there should be mandatory processes to make sure [a person's] mental health and the emotional health is well intact."

Needing help isn't bad, "it's just life," Gilbert said, adding that growing up in the "worst parts of Washington, D.C." left him with emotional scars because he was exposed to things he shouldn't have had to see. Officers also have to be exposed to difficult scenes and the Parks Police officer noted in the video that help is there on a voluntary basis, but many officers don't think they need it.

"Most police officers are going to say, 'Nah I'm good, I'm tough,' but you know what? That's some crazy stuff we see out there," he explained. "When you see traumatic things ... they are going to have an effect on you and you are going to lose sleep and I think it should be mandatory."

Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Parks Police for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Along with giving officers additional help for their mental health, Gilbert and the officer agreed police officers aren't necessarily the best people to de-escalate a mental health situation. Instead of calling an officer to respond to a drug addict, Gilbert advocated for a mental health counselor to handle the situation and for police to protect the counselor.

They also agreed that police are needed in other situations, specifically with regard to protecting people against rapists and murderers. The officer said not everyone out protesting sees that need, but Gilbert denied the "defund the police" movement wanted a blanket end to police forces.

Gilbert, who has been an active participant in the protests, said he was trying to have a "real conversation" with the officer and wasn't looking to be combative. He wasn't surprised by the officer's agreement with him on some issues and said change occurs when people are willing to go against the status quo.

"He was open to listening and seemed to understand and appreciate engaging in a conversation with me," Gilbert said.