Protesters tried tearing down a statue of Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, in Lafayette Square near the White House on Monday, but police intervened.

Dozens of law enforcement officers, led by U.S. Park Police, stormed into the square, swinging batons and firing pepper spray to clear the protesters away from the statue. By dark, police had taken control and outnumbered demonstrators in the immediate area.

Earlier Tuesday morning, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that he’s authorized the government to arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys a monument or statue. He added that this act could carry a 10-year prison sentence.

Trump’s threat comes as anti-racism demonstrations continue in the U.S. following the police killing of George Floyd. George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died in police custody in Minneapolis, Minn., on Memorial Day. Floyd died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes while other officers pinned him to the ground.

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