Updated 28 minutes ago
By
Tim Darnell
ArLuther Lee, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Declaring himself “the president of law and order,” President Donald Trump on Monday announced new measures to put down the “riots and lawlessness” that have gripped the nation since the death of George Floyd.
“My first duty is to defend our great country,” Trump said in a six-minute speech in the Rose Garden. “All Americans were rightly sickened and revolted by the death of George Floyd. I will fight to keep them safe,” he said.
The president then invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807, a federal law that allows the president to deploy military troops within the United States to suppress civil disorder, insurrection, and rebellion.
The president said he plans to mobilize the “thousands and thousands” of U.S. troops along with the National Guard to “dominate the streets” until the violence has been quelled, and will send military forces into states even if they do not give explicit consent for him to do so.
“My administration is fully committed that for George and his family, justice will be served,” Trump said. “He will not have died in vain. But we cannot allow the righteous cries of peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob.”
» MORE: What is Antifa? — the militant group Trump calls a terrorist organization
Trump blamed “professional anarchists” for the widespread rioting and mayhem, again mentioning the militant movement Antifa.
He called the previous night’s protests in front of the White House “a total disgrace.”
The first family had to be moved to a bunker for about an hour as the situation escalated.
Earlier, Attorney General William Barr stood across the street from the White House in Lafayette Park, surveying thousands of protesters who were being restrained by Secret Service and military police.
Nine large military trucks carrying troops with helmets on were parked outside the White House, according to reports.
Moments later, a wild scene ensued after authorities launched tear gas, rubber bullets and flash bangs at peaceful protesters in an effort to disperse the crowd about an hour before a curfew went into effect.
Explosions could be heard from the Rose Garden, according to reports.
After the crowds were cleared, Trump walked a block to St. John’s Episcopal Church, which was damaged in the protests the previous night.
The president was escorted by dozens of Secret Service agents.
After telling the nation’s governors that Washington, D.C., was under control during Sunday night’s violent protests and fires, President Donald Trump derided many governors as “weak” and demanded tougher crackdowns on burning and stealing among some demonstrations in the aftermath of another night of violent protests in dozens of American cities.
Earlier in the day, Trump spoke to governors on a video teleconference that also included law enforcement and “have to get much tougher” to end the uprisings.
“Most of you are weak,” Trump said. “You’ve got to arrest people, you have to track people, you have to put them in jail for 10 years and you’ll never see this stuff again. We’re doing it in Washington, D.C. We’re going to do something that people haven’t seen before.”
In audio obtained by @CBSNEws, Trump tells governors: "Washington was under very good control, but we’re going to have it under much more control. We’re going to pull in thousands of people." (more)— (@edokeefe)Jun 01 2020
Washington, D.C., was the site of several fires and violent protests Sunday night as the nation continues to reel with the racial and social aftershocks in the death of an unarmed black suspect in Minneapolis police custody.
The president urged the governors to deploy the National Guard, which he credited for helping calm the situation Sunday night in Minneapolis. He demanded that similarly tough measures be taken in cities that also experienced a spasm of violence, including New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
The president told the governors they were making themselves "look like fools" for not calling up more of the National Guard as a show for force on city streets.
Attorney General Bill Barr, who was also on the call, told governors that a joint terrorist task force would be used to track agitators and urged local officials to "dominate" the streets and control, not react to crowds, and urged them to "go after troublemakers."
Several news and social media reports recounted violence throughout the city, including near the White House.
Outside of the White House— just saw police shoot flash bangs into the crowd after protestors threw bottles at police. Situation worsening... #DCProtests pic.twitter.com/WRXOaC8WVg— Scott Thuman (@ScottThuman) June 1, 2020
More than 50 Secret Service agents were injured in Sunday night’s violence, according to Fox News.
Trump was taken to an underground White House bunker amid protests Friday due to terroristic threats, according to reports. He was there only for a short time.
.@KerriKupecDOJ confirms that DOJ has deployed members of the US Marshals Service and DEA agents to assist Natl Guard troops responding to protests near the White House this evening. Acting US atty for DC Mike Sherwin is also involved in investigative efforts, Kupec says. @ABC— Alex Mallin (@alex_mallin) June 1, 2020
Trump is blaming ANTIFA as one of the sources for the protests that have rocked the nation since the death of George Floyd, who died while in Minneapolis police custody over Memorial Day weekend.
Police forces charge and disperse crowd - moments ago White House pic.twitter.com/ENIXSRmFSj— ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) June 1, 2020
ANTIFA is regarded as a militant, left-wing, anti-fascist political activist movement in the United States.
»MORE: Who was George Floyd?
It is made up of autonomous activist groups that try to achieve their political objectives through direct action instead of policy reform.
Washington DC 7hours ago #DCsafe pic.twitter.com/ujPlOtPSXd— Ale (@a12345678_ale) June 1, 2020
Activists from the group reportedly have engaged in various protest tactics including property damage, physical violence and harassment against those whom they identify as fascist, racist or on the far right.
Fire burning inside the AFL CIO Building at 16th and I @nbcwashington @erika_news pic.twitter.com/AyGSgIF3ci— Tom Lynch (@TomLynch_) June 1, 2020
Trump said the U.S. will designate ANTIFA as a terrorist organization.
The United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organization.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2020
Trump did not appear in public on Sunday and was not scheduled to on Monday either.
In recent days security at the White House has been reinforced by the National Guard and additional personnel from the Secret Service and the U.S. Park Police.
By
Tim Darnell
ArLuther Lee, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Declaring himself “the president of law and order,” President Donald Trump on Monday announced new measures to put down the “riots and lawlessness” that have gripped the nation since the death of George Floyd.
“My first duty is to defend our great country,” Trump said in a six-minute speech in the Rose Garden. “All Americans were rightly sickened and revolted by the death of George Floyd. I will fight to keep them safe,” he said.
The president then invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807, a federal law that allows the president to deploy military troops within the United States to suppress civil disorder, insurrection, and rebellion.
The president said he plans to mobilize the “thousands and thousands” of U.S. troops along with the National Guard to “dominate the streets” until the violence has been quelled, and will send military forces into states even if they do not give explicit consent for him to do so.
“My administration is fully committed that for George and his family, justice will be served,” Trump said. “He will not have died in vain. But we cannot allow the righteous cries of peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob.”
» MORE: What is Antifa? — the militant group Trump calls a terrorist organization
Trump blamed “professional anarchists” for the widespread rioting and mayhem, again mentioning the militant movement Antifa.
He called the previous night’s protests in front of the White House “a total disgrace.”
The first family had to be moved to a bunker for about an hour as the situation escalated.
Earlier, Attorney General William Barr stood across the street from the White House in Lafayette Park, surveying thousands of protesters who were being restrained by Secret Service and military police.
Nine large military trucks carrying troops with helmets on were parked outside the White House, according to reports.
Moments later, a wild scene ensued after authorities launched tear gas, rubber bullets and flash bangs at peaceful protesters in an effort to disperse the crowd about an hour before a curfew went into effect.
Explosions could be heard from the Rose Garden, according to reports.
After the crowds were cleared, Trump walked a block to St. John’s Episcopal Church, which was damaged in the protests the previous night.
The president was escorted by dozens of Secret Service agents.
After telling the nation’s governors that Washington, D.C., was under control during Sunday night’s violent protests and fires, President Donald Trump derided many governors as “weak” and demanded tougher crackdowns on burning and stealing among some demonstrations in the aftermath of another night of violent protests in dozens of American cities.
Earlier in the day, Trump spoke to governors on a video teleconference that also included law enforcement and “have to get much tougher” to end the uprisings.
“Most of you are weak,” Trump said. “You’ve got to arrest people, you have to track people, you have to put them in jail for 10 years and you’ll never see this stuff again. We’re doing it in Washington, D.C. We’re going to do something that people haven’t seen before.”
In audio obtained by @CBSNEws, Trump tells governors: "Washington was under very good control, but we’re going to have it under much more control. We’re going to pull in thousands of people." (more)— (@edokeefe)Jun 01 2020
Washington, D.C., was the site of several fires and violent protests Sunday night as the nation continues to reel with the racial and social aftershocks in the death of an unarmed black suspect in Minneapolis police custody.
The president urged the governors to deploy the National Guard, which he credited for helping calm the situation Sunday night in Minneapolis. He demanded that similarly tough measures be taken in cities that also experienced a spasm of violence, including New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
The president told the governors they were making themselves "look like fools" for not calling up more of the National Guard as a show for force on city streets.
Attorney General Bill Barr, who was also on the call, told governors that a joint terrorist task force would be used to track agitators and urged local officials to "dominate" the streets and control, not react to crowds, and urged them to "go after troublemakers."
Several news and social media reports recounted violence throughout the city, including near the White House.
Outside of the White House— just saw police shoot flash bangs into the crowd after protestors threw bottles at police. Situation worsening... #DCProtests pic.twitter.com/WRXOaC8WVg— Scott Thuman (@ScottThuman) June 1, 2020
More than 50 Secret Service agents were injured in Sunday night’s violence, according to Fox News.
Trump was taken to an underground White House bunker amid protests Friday due to terroristic threats, according to reports. He was there only for a short time.
.@KerriKupecDOJ confirms that DOJ has deployed members of the US Marshals Service and DEA agents to assist Natl Guard troops responding to protests near the White House this evening. Acting US atty for DC Mike Sherwin is also involved in investigative efforts, Kupec says. @ABC— Alex Mallin (@alex_mallin) June 1, 2020
Trump is blaming ANTIFA as one of the sources for the protests that have rocked the nation since the death of George Floyd, who died while in Minneapolis police custody over Memorial Day weekend.
Police forces charge and disperse crowd - moments ago White House pic.twitter.com/ENIXSRmFSj— ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) June 1, 2020
ANTIFA is regarded as a militant, left-wing, anti-fascist political activist movement in the United States.
»MORE: Who was George Floyd?
It is made up of autonomous activist groups that try to achieve their political objectives through direct action instead of policy reform.
Washington DC 7hours ago #DCsafe pic.twitter.com/ujPlOtPSXd— Ale (@a12345678_ale) June 1, 2020
Activists from the group reportedly have engaged in various protest tactics including property damage, physical violence and harassment against those whom they identify as fascist, racist or on the far right.
Fire burning inside the AFL CIO Building at 16th and I @nbcwashington @erika_news pic.twitter.com/AyGSgIF3ci— Tom Lynch (@TomLynch_) June 1, 2020
Trump said the U.S. will designate ANTIFA as a terrorist organization.
The United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organization.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2020
Trump did not appear in public on Sunday and was not scheduled to on Monday either.
In recent days security at the White House has been reinforced by the National Guard and additional personnel from the Secret Service and the U.S. Park Police.