Riots in the US | Trump has announced the deployment of thousands of heavily armed soldiers

Defence Redefined

Published on 02/06/2020 at 08:41

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday night (US local time) that he had ordered the deployment of “thousands of heavily armed soldiers” and the police in Washington so as to regain control of the situation, referring to the incidents that took place in the last days following the death of a 46-year-old African-American man during his violent arrest by four white police officers as “domestic terrorism”, while characterising Sunday’s riots in the federal capital as “shameful”.

He threatened to send troops to cities and states that would refuse to obey the order he sent to mayors and governors to deploy “overwhelming” forces so as to enforce order and regain state “street sovereignty.”

“If any city or state refuses to do so, then I will engage the US military and solve the problem quickly,” said the White House resident.

As Trump insisted on restoring order, tear gas was used extensively outside the building to disperse protesters who had gathered to demand justice for George Floyd, the African-American man whose death last week in Minneapolis caused extensive riots.

Mounted police officers in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, driving hundreds of protesters away. After the end of his address, Trump walked to the iconic Anglican Church of St. John in Lafayette Park, a block away from the White House – the building was damaged during the episodes of the previous day – with helicopters flying overhead and dozens of security executives guarding him.

This church, called the “church of the presidents,” has been visited by all the current leaders of the United States since 1816, when it was built. “We have a great country,” Trump said as he posed for pictures in front of the church, holding a copy of the Bible before returning to the White House.

Source: ANA MNA