Trump fans flames
Priests tear gassed as he clutches Bible and vows to call in the army I’m despatching thousands of heavily armed soldiers to stop the rioting and looting
PRIESTS and protestors were tear gassed to clear the way so Donald Trump could pose for pics at a church minutes after he threatened to use the military against his own people.
Seething over coverage of how he was forced to flee into an underground bunker at the White House for his protection, the President demanded he be seen walking the streets.
Over the weekend nearby St John’s Episcopal Church was partially burned in protests as demonstrations continued over the fatal arrest of George Floyd.
Trump used the historic place of worship – where presidents since 1809 have prayed – to pose outside with a Bible and his all-white staff in a move labelled a “publicity stunt”.
Moments earlier, he had spoken from the White House Rose Garden threatening to unleash America’s military might on fellow Americans as, a few hundred yards away, police cleared peaceful protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets.
At the time, Gini Gerbasi, a rector at St John’s, and fellow clergy had been passing out water and assistance to demonstrators. Ms Gerbasi later said: “That man turned it into a battleground first and a cheap political stunt second.
“Friends, I am OK, but I am, frankly shaken. They started using tear gas and folks were running at us for eyewashes or water or wet paper towels.”
Ms Gerbasi said she was appalled when she learned the clash with protesters was to clear the area for Trump. She said: “I literally could not believe it. We were driven off the patio at St John’s – a place of peace and respite and medical care throughout the day – so that man could have a photo opportunity in front of the church. People were hurt so he could pose in front of the church with a Bible.”
Glenna Huber, a priest and rector with The Church of the Epiphany, was also at the church aiding protesters when the police came and forced the crowd out.
She said: “I’m horrified. Just moments before, we were handing out snacks and water. There was some men singing on the steps. People were chanting and peacefully assembling. I left as the National Guard arrived. They sprayed tear gas.”
Yesterday, the bishop who oversees St John’s slammed Trump. The Reverend Mariann Budde said: “The President cleared the park and courtyard of our church... stood in front of St John’s as if it were spiritual validation and justification for a message that is antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and God of justice.”
She later accused Trump of using the Bible like a “prop or an extension of his military and authoritative position”. “He stood in front of our church like it was a background to his agenda,” she said.
And former Vice President Joe Biden yesterday launched a blistering attack on Trump over the stunt.
He said: “When peaceful protesters are dispersed in order for a president, a president, from the doorstep of the people’s house, the White House – using tear gas and flash grenades – in order to stage a photo op at one of the most historic churches... we can be forgiven for believing the President is more interested in power than in principle.” In the Rose
Garden, Trump had declared, “I am your President of law and order”, as he made a desperate attempt to show he was taking control of the streets.
Trump said he was among Americans “rightly sickened and revolted” by the death of Mr Floyd.
But he added: “If a city or state refuses to take the actions necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the US military and quickly solve the problem for them.”
In his first remarks from the White House since protests swept the country, Trump said the looting, and violent demonstrations were “acts of domestic terror”, adding: “I am despatching thousands of heavily armed soldiers to stop the rioting.” He claimed the Insurrection Act of 1807 gave him the authority to act, sparking fury among politicians and the public. Many governors have come forward to denounce Trump’s abuse of power, saying he was operating outside the bounds of the law.
Letitia James, New York’s Attorney General, threatened to sue the President if he followed through on his pledge to deploy the military.
Instead of calming tensions following protests after a video of officer Derek Chauvin, 44, kneeling on Mr Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes went viral, the US leader further fuelled rioters and looters with his comments. Despite doubling the number of officers deployed in New York to 8,000 and an 11pm curfew, police struggled to respond to multiple reports of stores under attack across the city, including the famous Fifth Avenue.
One officer was run over by a car yesterday in the Bronx.
In Los Angeles, California, residents were warned to avoid Hollywood because of looting “on foot and via caravans”.
Twenty miles away, in Long Beach, police raised their guns in front of a dad as his daughter sat on his shoulders.
Rioters opened fire and wounded four officers in St Louis, Missouri, while others threw rocks, launched fireworks and poured petrol over police in scenes described as “mayhem”.
A patrolman was reportedly on life support after he was shot in the head in Las Vegas near the Circus Circus Hotel in one of two outbreaks of gunfire.
And a man carrying several guns was killed after he opened fire on police guarding a federal building in the city. Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said: “This is a sad night for the LVMPD family and a tragic night for our community.”
Two people were shot and killed in a Chicago, Illinois, suburb, where at least 60 others were arrested.
The Mirror watched in the western suburb of Naperville as looting broke out.
More than 1,000 arrests have been made in the city, where 2,000 emergency calls about looting have been received every 30 minutes.
Earlier, in Minneapolis, where Mr Floyd was killed, his brother Terrence Floyd became the first family member to visit the scene where the 46-year-old died.
Chauvin, who allegedly kept his knee on Mr Floyd’s neck for almost three minutes after he fell unconscious, has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
PRESIDENT TRUMP AT WHITE HOUSE YESTERDAY