Democrats adopted a dig at President Trump in their party’s 2020 draft platform over his administration’s decision to send federal agents to Democratic-run cities experiencing civil unrest.
Joe Biden’s presidential campaign proposed the amendment to the Democratic National Committee’s draft platform during a meeting Monday.
The new language condemns Trump’s determination “to sow chaos and division by inappropriately deploying federal agents to American cities, for too many have used egregious tactics against peaceful protesters,” according to Biden representative Sara Labowitz, who introduced it during Monday’s virtual gathering.
“We know federal agents can ably protect federal property while also clearly displaying badges, insignias, and identifying markings without detaining Americans in undisclosed locations without cause and without brutally attacking peaceful protesters,” Labowitz read. “Democrats are committed to following the rule of law and will uphold the First Amendment right to peaceably assemble.”
The motion received 170 votes from the DNC’s platform committee and one vote against. It will now be included in the roughly 80-page document that will be considered by the broader DNC membership during the party’s national convention from Aug. 17-20. While the convention will be anchored in Milwaukee, the debate will be conducted online.
The amendment reflects a statement Biden released last week after Trump dispatched U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in camouflage uniforms to Portland as the city grappled with 60-odd days of demonstrations against racial injustice. The protests, sparked by George Floyd’s death on Memorial Day, have been focused around a federal district courthouse, with the federal agents sent to protect it.
“We need a president who will bring us together instead of tear us apart, calm instead of inflame, and enforce the law faithfully rather than put his political interests first,” the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee said.
