Trump vows to end protests; tear gas fired on protesters near White House

By David Shepardson and Brendan O'Brien

 

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a statement on the ongoing protests over racial inequality in the wake of the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

 

WASHINGTON/MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to end violent protests in major cities across the nation "now," saying that he would deploy the military if mayors and state governors refused to call out the National Guard. As Trump spoke in the Rose Garden of the White House, live television images showed police firing tear gas to dispel demonstrators in Lafayette Park, across the street.

 

"Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled," Trump said. "If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are 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."

 

The demonstrations, largely peaceful during the day but turning violent after dark, have erupted over the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American who died in Minneapolis police custody after being pinned beneath a white officer's knee for nearly nine minutes.

 

A second autopsy ordered by Floyd's family and released on Monday found that his death was a homicide by "mechanical asphyxiation," meaning some physical force interfered with his oxygen supply. The report says three officers contributed to Floyd's death.

 

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner on Monday released details of its autopsy findings that also said Floyd's death was a homicide caused by asphyxiation. The county report added that Floyd suffered cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained by police and that he had arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease, fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use.

 

The new findings emerged after Trump spoke to the governors earlier in the day.

 

"You have to dominate," he told them in a private call obtained by Reuters. "If you don’t dominate, you’re wasting your time - they’re going to run over you, you’re going to look like a bunch of jerks."

 

Trump said the federal government was going to clamp down "very strong" on the violence. National Guard troops were deployed near the White House early Monday evening.

 

Dozens of cities across the United States remain under curfews at levels not seen since riots that broke out following the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The National Guard deployed in 23 states and Washington, D.C.

 

One person was killed in Louisville, Kentucky, overnight where police and National Guard troops returned fire while trying to disperse a crowd.

 

Police in Chicago fielded some 10,000 calls for looting, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.

 

The unrest, which erupted as the country was easing sweeping lockdowns to stop the spread of the coronavirus, began with peaceful protests over Floyd's death.

 

Derek Chauvin, a since-fired 44-year-old officer, has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

 

On Monday, dozens of people paid their respects to Floyd outside Cup Foods, the scene of his death. Visitors left flowers and signs honoring Floyd. A little girl wrote, “I’ll fight with you,” in aqua blue chalk in the road.

 

"This is therapeutic. My heart was real heavy this morning so I came down extra early and when I got here, the heaviness lifted,” said Diana Jones, 40, the mother of four children. “This right here let’s me know that things are going to be OK.”

 

Terrence Floyd, the victim's brother, told the gathering he wanted people to get educated, vote and not destroy their own communities. "Let's do this another way," he said.

 

Floyd's death was the latest to prompt an outcry over racism in law enforcement. It reignited outrage across a politically and racially divided country that has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with African Americans accounting for a disproportionately high number of cases.

 

The U.S. Justice Department has directed the Bureau of Prisons to send riot-control teams to Miami and Washington, D.C., to help manage the protests, a department official told reporters.

 

Department investigators are interviewing people arrested during protests who might face federal charges for such offenses as crossing state lines to incite violence, the official said.

 

Many cities affected by the unrest are allowing some businesses to reopen after more than two months of stay-at-home orders to stem a pandemic that has killed more than 104,000 people and left 40 million others jobless.

 

Trump has condemned the killing of Floyd and promised justice but has described protesters as "thugs."

 

Critics accuse the Republican president, who is seeking re-election in November, of stoking conflict and racial tension when he should be uniting the nation and addressing underlying issues.

 

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden met with black community leaders in a church and said he would create a police oversight board within his first 100 days in the White House if elected.

 

(Reporting by Lisa Lambert, Andy Sullivan, Maria Caspani, Peter Szekely, Lucy Nicholson, David Shepardson, Michael Martina and Brendan O'Brien; Writing by Paul Simao and Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Howard Goller and Cynthia Osterman)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-02

 

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So he gases PEACEFUL protesters by the church across the street from the White House, walks over, holds the bible up, click, photo taken, walks back to the WH and with bangs heard in the background, he declares himself a law and order president.

 

Surreal, innit?

2 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

So he gases PEACEFUL protesters by the church across the street from the White House, walks over, holds the bible up, click, photo taken, walks back to the WH and with bangs heard in the background, he declares himself a law and order president.

 

Surreal, innit?

Yes, and the mayor plus bishop are not very happy with that.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Trump said. "If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are 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."

No you won’t. 

What a disgrace this man is he’s toast imo riots coast to coast 105,000 covid deaths record unemployment tear gassing folks for some bs photo op nope he’s toast come on November!!!

17 minutes ago, Tug said:

What a disgrace this man is he’s toast imo riots coast to coast 105,000 covid deaths record unemployment tear gassing folks for some bs photo op nope he’s toast come on November!!!

Hopefully. 

But no guarantees. 

His strategy is to suppress voting. 

Very dark times indeed made 100 times worse with the worse president in American history. 

If he had an ounce of decency he would just resign.

 

Its good to know though that there at least some conservative thinkers that get it. 45 is the threat! 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/no-one-should-want-four-more-years-of-this-taste-of-ashes/2020/06/01/1a80ecf4-a425-11ea-bb20-ebf0921f3bbd_story.html

 

This unraveling presidency began with the Crybaby-in-Chief banging his spoon on his highchair tray to protest a photograph — a photograph — showing that his inauguration crowd the day before had been smaller than the one four years previous. Since then, this weak person’s idea of a strong person, this chest-pounding advertisement of his own gnawing insecurities, this low-rent Lear raging on his Twitter-heath has proven that the phrase malignant buffoon is not an oxymoron.

82 shot, 19 fatally, over Chicago’s most violent weekend of 2020. 

Nothing to do with George Floyd, they just like shooting each other in this city.

Black on black crimes, not a white copper in sight.

The horrible truth is deemed racist by some people.

If it wasn't clear already it should be by now. 

We've got a full on unhinged far right wing authoritarian in the white house. 

He cares nothing about the rule of law except the part that can be used against his opponents. 

He cares nothing about democracy. 

He cares nothing about fair elections. 

He cares nothing about freedom of the press. 

He cares nothing about the rights of free speech protest unless the people protesting are in his base and preferably carrying big guns. 

 

This only gets worse as long as he is president. 

 

 

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

If it wasn't clear already it should be by now. 

We've got a full on unhinged far right wing authoritarian in the white house. 

He cares nothing about the rule of law except the part that can be used against his opponents. 

He cares nothing about democracy. 

He cares nothing about fair elections. 

He cares nothing about freedom of the press. 

He cares nothing about the rights of of free speech protest unless the people protesting are in his base and preferably carrying big guns. 

 

This only gets worse as long as he is president. 

 

 

So another words the folks who are burning, looting, stealing and injuring the police share no responsibility to all this. it's all the POTUS's fault. That's what the libs instill.

4 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

So another words the folks who are burning, looting, stealing and injuring the police share no responsibility to all this. it's all the POTUS's fault. That's what the libs instill.

Strange conclusion, imo stemming from the us against them mentality.

 

6 minutes ago, ravip said:

 

Now there is the voice of rationality and reason. Also saw reports from Flint where the police chief/sheriff marched with the protestors.

 

trump should take a lesson from both men.

Quote

"[...] and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your Second Amendment rights."

I think he trying to encourage these kind of guys,

 

trying to let them know the US Armed Forces will support them.

Talk about a prescription for disaster!  The military is going to target ANYONE who is armed like this on the street, open-carry laws be damned!

 

 

No doubt his approval rating is going through the roof with his base.

15 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Now there is the voice of rationality and reason. Also saw reports from Flint where the police chief/sheriff marched with the protestors.

 

trump should take a lesson from both men.

We all know he won't. 

45 is all about winning a base election with another minority of votes. 

He figures his racist fascist personal is his only hope of that. 

If he loses he likely goes to prison. 

His motivation is purely about himself. 

1 minute ago, bendejo said:

I think he trying to encourage these kind of guys,

 

trying to let them know the US Armed Forces will support them.

Talk about a prescription for disaster!  The military is going to target ANYONE who is armed like this on the street, open-carry laws be damned!

 

 

No they won't! 

They're white right wingers. 

They are protected by the system. 

2 minutes ago, Thailand said:

No doubt his approval rating is going through the roof with his base.

His hard core base stays about the same consistently. It will rile them up though. 

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

We all know he won't. 

45 is all about winning a base election with another minority of votes. 

He figures his racist fascist personal is his only hope of that. 

If he loses he likely goes to prison. 

His motivation is purely about himself. 

To take a page out of his nonsense LOCK HIM UP !

POTUS wants Law and Order ????

 

21 minutes ago, ravip said:

 

I don't like amanpour, she likes her own voice way too much, but the police guy is absolutely right.

21 minutes ago, ravip said:

 

Listen to him!Chief Acevedo is presidential material,keep in mind being in politics tends to change people.

No mr Trump showing power is not the right thing to do!!!What will happen if you start shooting at people and they decide to shoot back?

2nd amendment?That could back fire big time!!!Time to be careful over there.

Looks like trump administration vicious propaganda is coming to fruition with reports of some police attacking on the ground media people.

 

A man who has consistently used messaging to encourage violence and society divisions - Law and Order President - LOL 

17 minutes ago, bendejo said:

I think he trying to encourage these kind of guys,

 

trying to let them know the US Armed Forces will support them.

Talk about a prescription for disaster!  The military is going to target ANYONE who is armed like this on the street, open-carry laws be damned!

 

 

Apparently this form of protest is totally acceptable if your barber shop has been closed for a few weeks to stop people from getting sick.

Did he issue this vow while cowering in fear in the White House basement? ???? It immediately reminds me of a photo of Saddam when they caught him cowering in a hole in the ground.

23 minutes ago, bendejo said:

I think he trying to encourage these kind of guys,

 

trying to let them know the US Armed Forces will support them.

Talk about a prescription for disaster!  The military is going to target ANYONE who is armed like this on the street, open-carry laws be damned!

 

 

Oh I should imagine that they are just itching to open up the dressing up boxes!

 

After all, they must have invested lots of dosh in all those XXXL tee shirts and jumbo sized assault vests, they surely must be allowed to strut their stuff!

2 minutes ago, simple1 said:

L

 

A man who has consistently used messaging to encourage violence and society divisions - Law and Order President - LOL 

Small correction there. Trump debunking the endless fake news by telling the real situation on his Twitter feed is not encouraging violence and division. The disgusting fake news cycles since Trump beat Hillary has been though. The Russia collusion hoax that was rammed down our throats and presented as fact 24/7 for 3 years was very divisive. More so because it was complete and utter BS. Then the Ukraine, Stormy, PeePee-gate, emoluments, didn't win the popular vote bla bla... IMO the legacy media caused all divisions and violence by their fake news, which Trump had no choice but to debunk. And in hindsight Trump was proven correct, the media was lying. 

 Their media wound the left up like a spinning top on a steady diet of fake news, and post lockdown let them go wizzing off. This is why the memory of George Floyd is a looted Louis Vuitton shop. Not very classy is it? And if they think Americans are going to surrender their guns after this little display, think again. Own goals all the way.

11 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

And if they think Americans are going to surrender their guns after this little display, think again.

Seems they are but mere props. The don't even use them anyway. What is the point for having them?

3 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Small correction there. Trump debunking the endless fake news by telling the real situation on his Twitter feed is not encouraging violence and division. The disgusting fake news cycles since Trump beat Hillary has been though. The Russia collusion hoax that was rammed down our throats and presented as fact 24/7 for 3 years was very divisive. More so because it was complete and utter BS. Then the Ukraine, Stormy, PeePee-gate, emoluments, didn't win the popular vote bla bla... IMO the legacy media caused all divisions and violence by their fake news, which Trump had no choice but to debunk. And in hindsight Trump was proven correct, the media was lying. 

 Their media wound the left up like a spinning top on a steady diet of fake news, and post lockdown let them go wizzing off. This is why the memory of George Floyd is a looted Louis Vuitton shop. Not very classy is it? And if they think Americans are going to surrender their guns after this little display, think again. Own goals all the way.

This is how McCarthy ended up lonely and humiliated spouting empty rhetoric as a decent world moved on from the toxic nonsense that had held court and terrorised debate for far too long. America wants healing , unity and an end to senseless division to aggrandise one man and his family. 

 

Senator. You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?

7 minutes ago, samran said:

I know hey?

 

3.5 years into his first term, 100K needelessly dead on his watch, the economy down the toilet, the country on fire.

 

I wonder what the second term holds?

That will be a pandora's box not just for the US but the world. God help us all if he did.