Barr: Law enforcement must 'dominate' streets amid protests
Earlier LBN thread: Trump calls governors 'weak,' urges them to 'dominate' unruly protests
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Source: Associated Press
Barr: Law enforcement must dominate streets amid protests
By MICHAEL BALSAMO
June 1, 2020
WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. officials vowed to maximize federal law enforcement presence in the nations capital on Monday night after days of violent demonstrations led to fires across Washington and left scores of businesses with broken windows and dozens of police officers injured.
In a call with governors, President Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr also encouraged more aggressive action against those who cause violence during protests across the country following the killing of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died after a white Minneapolis policeman pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes even after Floyd stopped moving and pleading for air. The demonstrations have turned violent in several cities, with fires ignited in Lafayette Park across from the White House.
The comments from Trump, Barr and other federal officials appeared aimed at avoiding similar scenes on Monday night, when protesters are expected to gather again. But there are also questions about whether using more aggressive law enforcement measures against demonstrators protesting police brutality would only increase tensions.
Barr told the state leaders that law enforcement officials must have adequate force and go after troublemakers.
Law enforcement response is not going to work unless we dominate the streets, Barr said.
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Read more:
https://apnews.com/47135c2d08f7fddef0ddda9d321ba2ea
Vehicles for the District of Columbia National Guard are seen outside the D.C. Armory, Monday, June 1, 2020, in Washington. Protests have erupted across the United States to protest the death of Floyd, a black man who was killed in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)