Senator Bill Cassidy (R) - Louisiana
President Trump calls on governors to deploy the National Guard in sufficient numbers to “dominate the streets” in the wake of lawlessness following nationwide police brutality protests.
Senator Bill Cassidy backed the President’s statement. He says Americans have the right to protest peacefully, but not violently.
“In most cases we hope it is reconciliation, working for justice, working for the end of brutality, but if there is the kind of looting and buildings being set on fire, then it takes a different kind of response,” says Cassidy.
The protests were triggered by the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police last week. The officer seen on video kneeing into Floyd’s neck has been charged with murder.
The President has been criticized for using inflammatory language to describe the protests, but Cassidy says Trump’s focus right now is on restoring order.
“We have to recognize that he is speaking of specific circumstances, and the President’s strong suit is not to speak in that conciliatory way that would bring people together,” says Cassidy.
The President came under fire yesterday after police were seen clearing a seemingly peaceful protest outside the White House with teargas to make room for a press conference.
Cassidy says the President’s statements were in response to protests that the Senator says have been infiltrated by anti-government elements.
“As long as there is criminal element anarchists infiltrating it is frankly going to be challenging, so frankly I think instead of looking to any one, we need to look within ourselves and our community,” says Cassidy.
President Trump announced over the weekend his call for ANTIFA, or anti-fascists, to be designated a terrorist organization. It’s currently unclear what that designation would mean, or who is would apply to.
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