A top Republican senator called for the U.S. military to intervene in the streets of major cities where protests have morphed into riots in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
During a Monday morning appearance on Fox News, Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton said it was time to bring in the troops to thwart ongoing protests across the United States.
“We should have zero tolerance for anarchy, rioting, and looting,” Cotton tweeted. “If necessary, the president should use the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty military forces to these cities to support our local law enforcement and ensure this violence ends tonight. Not one more night.”
We should have zero tolerance for anarchy, rioting, and looting.
If necessary, the president should use the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty military forces to these cities to support our local law enforcement and ensure this violence ends tonight.
Not one more night. pic.twitter.com/a41ExMrgIZ
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) June 1, 2020
President Trump threatened on Saturday to use the “unlimited power” of the military to break up riots if state and local governments could not curb them. That same day, the Pentagon said it was ready to send troops to Minneapolis and other cities if assistance was requested.
The Insurrection Act of 1807 was last used in 1992 when deadly riots broke out in California after police officers were acquitted in the Rodney King trial.
Cotton called for the 101st Airborne, a military unit specializing in air assault operations that landed paratroopers behind enemy lines during World War II, to be mobilized to put down riots that have burned through cities across the U.S. over the last week.
After radio host Jamie Dupree commented on Cotton’s tweet, the Arkansas Republican stood by his belief that the U.S. military should be brought to bear.
“And, if necessary, the 10th Mountain, 82nd Airborne, 1st Cav, 3rd Infantry — whatever it takes to restore order,” Cotton tweeted. “No quarter for insurrectionists, anarchists, rioters, and looters.”
And, if necessary, the 10th Mountain, 82nd Airborne, 1st Cav, 3rd Infantry—whatever it takes to restore order. No quarter for insurrectionists, anarchists, rioters, and looters. https://t.co/OnNJmnDrYM
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) June 1, 2020
Protests took a violent turn in the last few days, with cities across the country experiencing looting, assaults, and destruction of businesses.
Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was fired and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter after he held his knee to Floyd’s neck as Floyd pleaded, “I can’t breathe.” Floyd was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Three other officers were also on the scene when Floyd died. They have been fired from the department but have not been charged.
