On Monday, with no notice, U.S. President Donald Trump issued dramatic orders to target the thousands of protestors that had been rallying outside the White House for days.

As Trump stepped to the podium of the White House Rose Garden — just steps away police officers, the national guard, and U.S. park police were clearing Lafayette park using tear gas, rubber bullets, horses and batons.

CGTN digital producer Lisa Chiu and photographers Duane Watkins and Kuba Wuls were covering the protest and the crackdown on Monday, while digital producers Eshalaxmi Barlingay and Xiaolu Sun had covered the protest the night before.

Watch and listen as Chiu and Barlingay recount what it was like for them in real time.