As the George Floyd protests continue, people all across the country have been teaming up to vandalize and tear down confederate statues. Local and state governments have also stepped in to remove these monuments to racism and treason, in what is a long-overdue reckoning of our country’s racist history. Images and videos of these statues being toppled have spread across social media, and with good reason. Nothing signifies revolution quite like tearing down the statues of oppressors.
(Destroys racist statues while Enya plays in the background) pic.twitter.com/euZWN8Vsyk
— angy. BLM! (@uheeuhaha) June 11, 2020
So it will not surprise you to hear that racist-in-chief Donald Trump is not happy about these statues being torn down. 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…” He added, “…. This action is taken effective immediately, but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused. There will be no exceptions!”
Glad to see that Trump is prioritizing the protection of these racist monuments, as opposed to 1) addressing rampant police brutality or 2) the pandemic or 3) the economic collapse or literally every other thing of greater importance. It’s a move designed to appease his Confederate-loving, white supremacist base, as is everything he says and does.
Minutes ago protesters in Lafayette Square outside the White House were trying to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson.
Police then forced protesters away using pepper spray and batons.pic.twitter.com/ht1e8Ghogj
— Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) June 23, 2020
Trump also thanked the cops who pepper-sprayed protesters as they attempted to take down the Andrew Jackson statue in Lafayette Square, close to the White House. Trump has long been a fan of Jackson, who shares his racist and populist beliefs. The president tweeted in response,
Numerous people arrested in D.C. for the disgraceful vandalism, in Lafayette Park, of the magnificent Statue of Andrew Jackson, in addition to the exterior defacing of St. John’s Church across the street. 10 years in prison under the Veteran’s Memorial Preservation Act. Beware!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 23, 2020
Trump spoke to reporters outside the White House saying, “We are looking at long term jail sentences for these vandals, hoodlums, anarchists and agitators.” He continued harping on the statues in an interview with Raymond Arroyo, host of “World Over” on the EWTN Global Catholic Network, saying “It’s a disgrace.” He added, “Also, remember, some of this is great artwork. This is magnificent artwork, as good as there is anywhere in the world — as good as you see in France. As good as you see anywhere. It’s a disgrace.”
Ultimately, Trump and the federal government have little authority over these statues, which are largely subject to state and local governance. And more and more people are wising up to the fact that the Confederacy is not heritage. It was a five-year long failed secession attempt solely based on the Southern desire to keep slavery intact.
Pokemon Go has lasted longer than the Confederacy, so we should honestly just replace all these statues with Squirtle and call it a day.
Our statues aren’t our history. They’re honors we bestow on figures who embody our values and aspirations. As our values evolve, reassessing whether the figures who adorn our public spaces continue to reflect what’s important to us is not only natural and expected, it’s healthy.
— Radley Balko (@radleybalko) June 23, 2020
(via HuffPost, image: RYAN M. KELLY/AFP via Getty Images)
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