current event update: monday, june 1st

By Luca Adamo

On Monday afternoon, President Donald Trump issued a roughly seven-minute statement in the White House Rose Garden. The remarks came on the 7th day of widespread protest across the United States in response to the May 25th death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 


Below is a chronological summary of some President Trump's statements made in his speech. The full transcript can be viewed by following the link at the end of this update. 


It was expressed that the Trump administration will “uphold the laws of [The United States], and are “fully committed that for George [Floyd] and his family, justice will be served.”


Trump expressed he was an “ally of all peaceful protesters”, and that “ we cannot allow the righteous cries and peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob”, who is cited as “professional anarchists, violent mobs, arsonists, looters, criminals,  rioters, Antifa and others.” 


“A number of state and local governors have failed to take necessary action to safeguard their residence.” 


Specific instances of violence are cited. Vandalism and destruction of historic sites, such as the Lincoln Memorial, the WW2 Memorial, and St. John's Church is mentioned. President Trump stated that “These are not acts of peaceful protest. These are acts of domestic terror.”


It is stated that the above mentioned violence is why “immediate action”, with the mobilization of “all federal resources, civilian and military to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson, and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your second amendment rights.” 


This action is composed of the following:


Recommendation to “every governor to deploy the National Guard in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets.” If “a city or a 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.” This action is in accordance with rights provided to the POTUS in The Insurrection Act of 1807 (Link at the end of the post to learn more about the act).


Protection of Washington DC from “rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults, and the … destruction of property”, which will be done through the “dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel, and law enforcement officers”,“strict” enforcement of the seven o’clock curfew, and the arrest and detainment and prosecution of those committing acts of violence.


“Severe criminal penalties and lengthy jail sentences” for “Antifa and others who are leading instigators of this violence.”


The address ended with Trump stating that he is “going to pay [his] respects to a very, very special place”, being the aforementioned St. John’s Church. 


Read More:
 
Speech Transcript: 
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-by-the-president-39/


Insurrection Act of 1807: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurrection_Act#:~:text=March%203%2C%201807.&text=The%20Insurrection%20Act%20of%201807,disorder%2C%20insurrection%2C%20and%20rebellion.\