On Monday, as the George Floyd protestors demonstrated against racial police violence in Washington, D.C.’s Lafayette Square, police officers used tear gas and rubber bullets to drive away the demonstrators, so that President Donald Trump could make an appearance for a photo op at an Episcopal church.
Law enforcement used tear gas on the crowd in the park, as Trump gave his Rose Garden speech and was about to leave to the St. John’s Church. According to the reporters at the scene, the protests were peaceful.
During the Rose Garden speech, Trump said he was “dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel, and law enforcement officers” to stop the protests from going violent. He criticized the local officials for mishandling the protests and demanded tougher measures.
At St. John’s Church, also known as “the Church of the Presidents,” Trump posed with the Bible for photographers.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.
The Archbishop of the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, released a public statement, criticizing the Trump’s actions:
“In so doing, he used a church building and the Holy Bible for partisan political purposes,” he said. “This was done in a time of deep hurt and pain in our country, and his action did nothing to help us or to heal us.”
James Martin, a Jesuit priest and consultant to the Vatican’s communications department, tweeted: “The Bible is not a prop.”
The protests across the country have been going on for a week, sparked by George Floyd’s death. The 46-year-old African American man died after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck during the arrest. Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder.
CORONAVIRUS FAQ: WIKI OF MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIO
Last week, President Joe Biden announced that he would pardon 39 people and commute the prison sentences…
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) condemned his fellow Republican lawmakers during a rant on the House floor after…
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_kYWlyzuiMk Rep. Mike Waltz did 44 pushups to honor a bet after the Army football…
In a series of X posts on Wednesday, the platform's CEO Elon Musk criticized a bipartisan spending…
"You can't love your country only when you win." President Joe Biden has repeated this phrase to…
Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pennsylvania), the top Democrat on the House Ethics Committee, missed a committee meeting after…