Attorney General William Barr held a news conference on Saturday, delivering remarks on the death of Mr. George Floyd, following the Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, who was seen in a video kneeling on Floyd’s neck until he could not breathe. Chauvin has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
The attorney general also blasted far left organizations, such as Antifa, for “hijacking” the nationwide protests.
“The outrage of our national community about what happened to George Floyd in Minneapolis is real and legitimate,” Attorney General Barr said.
“The accountability for his death must be addressed and is being addressed through the regular process of our criminal justice system, both at the state and the federal level,” he explained. “That system is working and moving at exceptional speed. Already initial charges have been filed by the state. That process continues to move forward, and justice will be served.”
The Attorney General also addressed the rioting amid the protests. “Unfortunately, the rioting that is occurring in many of our cities around the country, the voices of people protests are being hijacked by violent radical elements.”
“Groups of outside radicals and agitators are exploiting the situation to pursue their own separate and violent agenda. In many places, it appears the violence is planned, organized, and driven by anarchic and left extremist groups, far left extremist groups, using Antifa-like tactics, many of whom travel from outside the state to promote the violence,” Barr stated. Continued Below
“We must have law and order on our streets and in our communities,” the attorney general stressed. “And it is the responsibility of the local and state leadership in the first instance, to halt this violence.”
He also said that the Department of Justice, FBI, U.S. Marshals, ATF, (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) DEA, (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) and 93 U.S. state attorney’s offices’ around the country “are supporting these local efforts and will continue to support them and take all action necessary to enforce federal law”.
“In that regard, it is a federal crime to cross state lines or to use interstate facilities to incite or participate in violent rioting. And we will enforce those laws,” Barr warned. Video Below
Attorney General William Barr’s official remarks:
President Trump on Saturday, said the organizers rioting are “Antifa: a lot of radical left bad people”.
President @realDonaldTrump says violence must stop so Americans can honor the memory of #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/fXdVlAzaEE
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) May 30, 2020
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President Trump also called out the “organized groups”, “radical left and Antifa” on Twitter Saturday:
These are “Organized Groups” that have nothing to do with George Floyd. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020
It’s ANTIFA and the Radical Left. Don’t lay the blame on others!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020
Crossing State lines to incite violence is a FEDERAL CRIME! Liberal Governors and Mayors must get MUCH tougher or the Federal Government will step in and do what has to be done, and that includes using the unlimited power of our Military and many arrests. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020
80% of the RIOTERS in Minneapolis last night were from OUT OF STATE. They are harming businesses (especially African American small businesses), homes, and the community of good, hardworking Minneapolis residents who want peace, equality, and to provide for their families.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020
