President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Attorney General William Barr spent the week in part reiterating the Trump Administration's commitment to law and order in the face of recent unrest in American cities which ignited in response to the tragic death of George Floyd. Sadly, Democratic lawmakers continue to attack the Administration's efforts.
During a contentious House Judiciary Committee hearing earlier this week, Attorney General Bill Barr condemned the barrage of violence that cities like Portland have experienced over the last few months:
“Every night for the past two months, a mob of hundreds of rioters has laid siege to the federal courthouse and other nearby federal property,” Barr said. “The rioters have come equipped for a fight, armed with powerful slingshots, tasers, sledgehammers, saws, knives, rifles, and explosive devices.”
Those rioters, said Barr, have tried to burn down the courthouse, attacked federal officers, and pelted them with “rocks, frozen water bottles, cans of food, and balloons filled with fecal matter.” For those who scoff at the idea of slingshots being dangerous, Barr said the rioters have been using them to fire ball bearings at officers that have “penetrated marshals to the bone.”
The injuries to federal officers trying to protect federal property include severe burns, beatings, and three officers who may be permanently blinded after being hit with lasers.
Vice President Mike Pence also highlighted the Administration's commitment to law and order on Thursday while speaking at a "Cops for Trump" event in Pennsylvania:
When Democrats call for defunding the police, remember what’s at stake: law and order, safety, and the peace of mind that you and your family have every right to enjoy as citizens of the greatest Nation on earth. We’re not going to defund the police, not now, not EVER. pic.twitter.com/wxnolDQMNO
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) July 30, 2020
He also explained the origin of Operation Legend, the Administration's effort to quell the rise in violence:
Vice President @Mike_Pence on the origins of Operation Legend pic.twitter.com/R70Rpu0GcI
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) July 30, 2020
Earlier today, President Trump explained how his Administration is willing to help secure cities, but it is up to local officials to request the help:
We are willing to help cities reclaim law and order if they will accept our help. pic.twitter.com/gVoQuH0pQr
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 31, 2020
Shockingly, some cities plagued the most by recent riots have refused help from the federal government.
Despite Democratic elected officials' efforts to discredit the Trump Administration's response to violence experienced in predominantly Democrat-run cities, it remains clear a law and order approach is necessary to restore stability to cities being destroyed by violence.