Attorney General William Barr defended the federal government’s response to violent riots that have broken out across the country, pushing back against the narrative that the demonstrations have been peaceful.

“To state what should be obvious, peaceful protesters do not throw explosives into federal courthouses, tear down plywood with crowbars, or launch fecal matter at federal officers,” Barr said in his prepared opening remarks, which were released Monday night before his testimony to the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday. “Such acts are, in fact, federal crimes under statutes enacted by this Congress.”