Trump calls for jail time for protesters pulling down statues

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Statues all over the country with links to racism from confederate soldiers to former presidents, even St. John Church were not spared from vandalism and toppling.
• President Trump cites the Veteran’s Memorial Preservation Act calls for up to 10 years behind bars and a fine for anyone who damages or attempts to damage “any structure, plaque, statue, or other monument on public property commemorating the service of any person or persons in the armed forces of the United States.
• Anyone caught vandalizing, defacing, toppling down statues and monuments will be arrested and serve prison time and Trump vows no exceptions.

George Floyd’s death not only sparked worldwide protests against police brutality and racism, but also acts of anger and vandalism on historic monuments and statues all over the US.  These statues and monuments have been targeted because of their links to a racist past.

This prompted President Trump to call for arrest and prison time for vandals and vowed no exceptions.

In Washington, D.C., the following monuments have been vandalized: Lincoln Memorial and World War II Memorial; St. John’s Church, and an attempt to take down Andrew Jackson’s statue Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C.

House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tweeted that, “The second attack on St. John’s Church is a chilling message that faith and freedom are enemies in the eyes of the anarchists on the street. Perpetrators must be prosecuted. These senseless attacks must be stopped. “

Protesters failed to take down Jackson’s statue but was defaced with a “killer scum” vandal on its pedestal.  

Across the country, a statue of President George Washington was toppled down in Portland, Oregon; a statue of former president Ulysses S. Grant who led the Union Army in the Civil War was defaced and toppled down in San Francisco, California, and statues of Confederate soldiers and generals largely in the South were targeted.

President Trump declared that anyone caught vandalizing monuments or any other federal property can be subject to arrest and face up to 10 years in prison and calls these acts as a disgrace.

Trump tweeted, “I have authorized the Federal Government to arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys any monument, statue or other such Federal property in the U.S. with up to 10 years in prison, per the Veteran’s Memorial Preservation Act, or such other laws that may be pertinent. This action is taken effective immediately, but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused. “There will be no exceptions!”

Source: Fox News