Trump says protests over George Floyd’s death are ″ internal terror ″

The President of the United States on Monday classified the protests of the last few days as “internal terror”, while the police dispersed with tear gas the demonstrators concentrated in front of the White House, in Washington.

Authorities’ shots at protesters, who have taken to the streets across the country following the death of African-American citizen George Floyd due to police action, were audible over Donald Trump’s nearly 16-minute speech. , broadcast on the White House page on the social network Twitter.

“This is not a peaceful protest, this is an act of domestic terror, it is the destruction of innocent lives. The spilling of human blood is an offense against humanity and a crime against God,” said the American head of state.

Trump explained that, “in the past few days, the nation has been seized by anarchists” and “violent crowds”, having announced “immediate presidential actions to stop violence and restore security” in the country.

“I will mobilize all available federal resources, civil and military, to stop the riots and looting […], and protect the Americans who obey the rules, “continued Trump.

Donald Trump also recommended “strongly to all governors” to “mobilize the National Guard in sufficient numbers to dominate the streets”.

If mayors and governors “fail”, the President has threatened that he will have no problems mobilizing the American military, considering himself an “ally of peaceful protests”.

“My first obligation as President is to defend our great country and the American people,” said Trump, during the communication to the country, adding that Floyd’s death “will not be in vain” and that “justice will be done” .

After the press conference, the American President walked to the Episcopal Church of São João, located near the White House, which was degraded in the wake of acts of vandalism on the sidelines of the protests against racism the night before.

Arriving at the so-called ‘church of presidents’, where a fire broke out on Sunday night, Trump grabbed a Bible and said the United States is “a great country”.

George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, died on May 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after a white policeman kneeled him in the neck for about eight minutes in an arrest operation, although Floyd said who couldn’t breathe.

Since the disclosure of the images on social networks, protests against police violence and racism have occurred in dozens of American cities, some of which have been the scene of looting.

At least 4,000 people have been detained and curfews have been imposed in several cities, including Washington and New York, but several comments by US President Donald Trump against the protesters have intensified protests.

The four policemen involved in the incident were fired, and Agent Derek Chauvin, who put his knee on Floyd’s neck, was arrested, charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.

Floyd’s death occurred during his detention on suspicion of using a counterfeit $ 20 (18 euro) bill in a store.

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