President Donald J. Trump announced on Monday that he plans to send federal agents to Chicago, Illinois. He also threatened to send federal enforcement to cities like New York, Philadelphia, Detroit and Oakland.
This news comes as federal agents in Portland, Oregon have been shown tear gassing demonstrators. Also, local law enforcement in Chicago were caught on video punching an 18-year-old woman in the mouth and knocking her teeth out over the weekend.
“I’m going to do something — that, I can tell you,” Trump said in the Oval Office.
“Because we’re not going to let New York and Chicago and Philadelphia and Detroit and Baltimore and all of these — Oakland is a mess. We’re not going to let this happen in our country. All run by liberal Democrats,” he said.
Federal officers sent to Portland to “quell” protests have had this efffect pic.twitter.com/1ezTpS6C37
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) July 21, 2020
In response to Trump’s threats, a number of local and state officials have threatened legal action against Trump.
“This political theater from President Trump has nothing to do with public safety. The President is failing to lead this nation. Now he is deploying federal officers to patrol the streets of Portland in a blatant abuse of power by the federal government,” Oregon Gov. Kate Brown tweeted.
“This isn’t just an Oregon crisis,” Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley said.
“It’s an American crisis. We need to stop Trump before this spreads,” he continued.
Protests across the country are expected to ramp up as the election nears. Just 24 hours after Trump is expected to accept the GOP’s nomination for President, Rev. Al Sharpton and company will host the Get Your Knee Off Our Neck March in Washington, D.C.
