President Trump threatened on Monday to send in the army to quell the violence and unrest in the country over the death of unarmed black man George Floyd in Minneapolis. He added that if the city authorities fail to protect their residents and control the protesters, he would quickly solve the problem by deploying the military.
The protests over Floyd’s death are entering the seventh day. As the Republican President spoke at the White House, police cleared the nearby park using pepper bullets and tear gas after that Trump crossed the park and posed outside the damaged church.
His move has provoked criticism from those who accuse him of aggressively targeting the peaceful protesters in aid of a photo opportunity. Meanwhile, many cities have imposed curfews in a bid to bring order back, Washington city authorities have extended the curfew for another two nights.
But demonstrators have continued unabated. The protests began after a video circulated on social media that showed Floyd arrested by Minneapolis police and a white police officer kneeling on his neck even after he pleaded that he could not breathe.
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Derek Chauvin, the White police officer in the video, has been charged for Floyd’s murder. He was due to be presented before the court on Monday, but due to the situation in the country, he will now appear next week.
Three other police officers present at the scene have also been fired. The Post-mortem report on Monday declared George Floyd’s death as a homicide.
Amid the sounds of nearby protesters being dispersed, President Trump delivered the speech from the Rose Garden. He acknowledged that all Americans are sickened and frustrated over Floyd’s death. But he urged that his memory should not be dishonored at the hands of an angry mob.
Trump described the violence and looting in the cities as “a total disgrace” and pledged to bolster the city’s defense. He added that he is dispatching thousands of troops to stop looting, assaults, vandalism, and the wanton destruction of property.
For the national protests, he accused the organization of Antifa, and on Sunday, he said he intends to designate the group as a terrorist organization. He called on the local city authorities to call in the National Guard, the country’s reserve military force. According to the National Guards, at least 16,000 of its troops have been deployed to deal with the violence and unrest.
Trump added that if cities do not call in the National Guards, then he will send the military to quell the unrest and looting. He said that organizers of this terror would face several criminal charges.
However, senior democrats criticized his comments on the situation in the country. Joe Bide, his rival in the upcoming presidential election, said that Trump is using the American military against its people. According to the latest reports, more than 75 cities faced severe protests.
The streets which were deserted only a few weeks ago because of the coronavirus restrictions have now filled with protesters marching shoulder to shoulder. On Monday, the protests kicked off once again, with more than 40 cities extending the lockdowns and curfews.
In New York, thousands of protesters came out on the streets to protest, and video on social media showed looting at Manhattan’s major shops. In Kentucky, the chief of Louisville Police was fired after the National Guard, and Police shot into the crowd on Sunday, killing the owner of a nearby business.
