After George Floyd's death, protests escalated in the United States. Trump now wants to use the military to stop the whole thing.
- The demonstrations in the United States after George Floyd's death escalate.
- Hundreds of thousands demonstrate against police violence and racism .
- US President Donald Trump now wants to use the military .
Washington - The situation in the USA is coming to a head. Across the country, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrate against police violence and systematic racism after George Floyd's death . US President Donald Trump wants to use military force to stop the unrest in the USA if necessary. Accompanied by protests and chaotic scenes outside the White House , Trump announced the mobilization of all of his government's available civil and military forces .
"We are ending the unrest and lawlessness that has spread across our country," Trump said during a speech in the White House rose garden . Trump continued: "If a city or state refuses to take any measures necessary to protect the lives and possessions of its citizens, then I will use the United States military and quickly resolve the problem for them."
Protests against police violence in the USA: numerous cities impose curfews
Demonstrations against police violence, racism and social injustice have been going on for days in Washington , New York and other US cities. The protests were triggered by the death of African American George Floyd after a brutal police operation in Minneapolis , Minnesota. In many US metropolises, the demonstrations have turned into rioting and looting. More than 40 cities have curfews at night.
USA: Donald Trump uses military police against demonstrators
During Trump's appearance in the rose garden, security forces used force to force demonstrators outside the White House, including tear gas, as a dpa reporter reported. Even military police was used against demonstrators. Shops, restaurants and hotels in the area had barricaded their shop windows.
In public prayer and demonstrations for Floyd , however, there were completely different scenes against violence and division: with a symbolic knee, police officers have repeatedly expressed their solidarity with demonstrators in recent protests. In various cities, officials knelt, bowed their heads in prayer, or hugged protesters.
After George Floyd's death: Trump calls on governors to deploy military
Trump urged Republicans to deploy sufficient National Guard forces to bring the streets back under control. The US president threatened troublemakers with severe consequences. He warned “the organizers of terror”, who face “long prison terms”.
Democratic governors indignantly rejected Trump's push. New York state governor Andrew Cuomo called it "shameful" that Trump wanted to use the military against Americans. Illinois state governor JB Pritzker told CNN that the president had no legal basis to deploy the U.S. military to states. His colleague Gretchen Whitmer , state governor of Michigan, said Trump could not use the military without her consent. Whitmer called Trump's statements "dangerous and devastating".
Despite the criticism, Trump continued to announce "determined measures" to protect the capital, Washington. What happened there was " total shame ". He sends "thousands of heavily armed soldiers" to stop new riots in Washington .
fmü with dpa
Rubric list image: © dpa / John Minchillo
