Sending federal officers to cities is not the best move of this president
By Douglas Schoen, opinion contributor — 07/26/20 02:00 PM EDT
Two months after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, protests continue in cities across the country. Some have turned violent, leading to arson and property damage. President Trump ordered federal officers sent to protect statues, monuments, and federal facilities to start cracking down on the crowds gathering in these cities.
These widely criticized orders were executed against the wishes of state and local officials. Reports cite that federal officers in unmarked vehicles have seized protesters from the streets and detained them, and have fired tear gas into crowds. While the unrest in cities is unsettling, it is unclear if it makes political or legal sense for Trump to take such action.
With only 100 days until the election this fall, Trump is evidently trying to position himself as the law and order candidate, while working to define Democrats as weak on crime. The vast majority of the Americans likely agree with Trump on the need for law and order, as well as the need to control civil unrest that turns into arson and property damage.
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https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/509087-sending-federal-officers-to-cities-is-not-the-best-move-of-this-president
