George Floyd: Trump Threaten To Unleash ‘Heavily Armed’ Military Against Protesters
LAGOS JUNE 2ND (NEWSRANGERS)-President Donald Trump late Monday threatened to mobilize the U.S. military to keep the peace across the nation, following days of violent protests and minutes after federal police charged a crowd of peaceful demonstrators to clear a path for a presidential photo op.
Speaking at the Rose Garden of the White House, Trump derided governors for not acting more harshly against demonstrators, and said he was deploying “heavily armed” soldiers and federal police in Washington to quell protests.
“I am mobilizing all federal and local resources, civilian and military, to protect the rights of law abiding Americans,” Trump said, citing the Insurrection Act of 1807. “Today I have strongly recommended to every governor to deploy the National Guard in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets. Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming presence until the violence is quelled.”
“If a city or state refuses to take the actions necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them,” he said.
Earlier Monday afternoon, military trucks full of soldiers were spotted driving into the White House compound.
While the president has the authority to deploy troops in Washington, the federal government cannot simply send soldiers to states. Under the Insurrection Act, states must first request military intervention.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told CNN that Trump was full of bluster. “Well, it’s illegal. He can’t do it. We won’t request military assistance here in the state of Illinois. I can’t imagine why any governor is going to do that. This is… it’s ridiculous.”
While Trump said he was “an ally of all peaceful protesters,” moments before he spoke, federal police aggressively confronted peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square Park, across from the White House, firing tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a crowd.
Washington’s mayor condemned the violent crackdown. “I imposed a curfew at 7pm. A full 25 minutes before the curfew & w/o provocation, federal police used munitions on peaceful protestors in front of the White House, an act that will make the job of @DCPoliceDept officers more difficult. Shameful!” Mayor Muriel Bowser tweeted.
The protesters were apparently cleared out so Trump could have a photo opportunity at the historic St. John’s Episcopal Church across the street from the White House, where he posed for photos with a Bible in front of the boarded-up church, which caught fire briefly Sunday night.
“Donald Trump just tear-gassed peaceful protesters for a photo op,” Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., tweeted Monday night. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also blasted Trump in a tweet: “He used the military to push out a peaceful protest so he could have a photo op at a church. It’s all just a reality TV show for this president. Shameful.”
The Rev. Mariann Budde, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, told the Washington Post that she did not know of Trump’s plans beforehand. “I am outraged,” she told the Post, saying Trump used the church “as a prop.”
“Everything he has said and done is to inflame violence,” Budde said. “I don’t want President Trump speaking for St. John’s.”
Market Watch
Short URL: https://newsrangers.com/?p=50232
Posted by News Rangers
on Jun 2 2020. Filed under International, National.
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