- Title: Mexican president greeted by supporters and protesters in Washington visit
- Date: 8th July 2020
- Summary: LOPEZ OBRADOR SINGS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM NEXT TO A WREATH VARIOUS OF LOPEZ OBRADOR SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM
- Embargoed: 22nd July 2020 17:11
- Keywords: AMLO ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR MEXICO nafta protesters trump usmca
- Location: WASHIGNTON, D.C. USA
- City: WASHIGNTON, D.C. USA
- Country: USA
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002CLYA2BR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador started his visit to Washington on Wednesday (July 8) with a wreath laying at the foot of the Benito Juarez statue outside the Watergate Hotel. Juarez was a former Mexican president for 14 years in the late 19th century and a figure Lopez Obrador has tried to place himself next to since the start of his campaign and presidency.
Lopez Obrador sang the national anthem next to the wreath before waving to a crowd of supporters and protesters and leaving to prepare for his meeting with President Donald Trump.
The crowd of supporters swarmed the site around the statue after they were allowed to cross and exchanged heated words with protesters.
"Let it be clear: we don't want Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Washington. We don't want Mexico to turn into Venezuela, that's what we came here to say. Look at these people, there's more of us that don't want him,' said Raul Torres, a Mexico City native now living in New York City.
The handful of protesters were surrounded and shouted down by supporters.
"AMLO is a world leader for Mexico. We finally have someone in Mexico who will rescue Mexico from so much corruption, all the political parties, and the sold-out press. We finally have justice with Obrador. We're here supporting him," said Maximiliano Calleja, a New York City resident.
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