Most of the evening was peaceful, with a few protesters turning to vandalism in a tight area -- actions that brought police to move in closer and ultimately work to disperse the crowd.

A curfew was declared in Spokane, Washington, and protests were held in several cities including Seattle, St. Louis and Las Vegas on Wednesday night.

The president claimed, without giving evidence, that the protesters were “paid” agitators, that the Los Angeles police asked for the National Guard, and that swaths of the city were under gang control.