A prominent civil rights attorney is calling for the Democrats who pinned the recent protest violence on President Trump to refocus their scrutiny elsewhere.
“I am disappointed, shocked that there has been no Democratic lawmaker in the last 72 hours who have focused on the criminal activities of these individuals who are not protesting,” said California-based attorney Leo Terrell. “These are criminals and they are breaking the law using the guise of caring about George Floyd.”
Since Floyd’s death in police custody Monday, angry protesters have rioted in the streets in nearly every major city in America to demand justice for his death and calls for an end to police brutality.
Floyd, who video shows never resisted arrest, died after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than two minutes. Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and had a history of civilian complaints.
No charges have been brought against the other three officers who responded to the scene of Floyd’s murder.
There have been thousands of cases of looting, arson, and destruction of property as local and statewide police in Minneapolis and elsewhere struggle to contain the riots.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz issued a curfew over the weekend and has called for an end to the “looting and recklessness.”
“We can’t have it, because we can’t have it in society. I refuse to have it take away the attention from the stain we need to be working on,” Walz said this week.
Walz and leaders in other communities have said agitators from outside the area have come to their cities to further the violence.
Some Democrats have blamed Trump for the civil unrest, accusing him of fanning the flames of racism in America.
“And I’m thinking about the way that the president conducts himself,” said California Rep. Maxine Waters. “In a way, he’s dog whistling, and I think that they’re feeling that they can get away with this kind of treatment. And I’m just so sorry about the loss of another life.”
Terrell said Democrats’ blame is misplaced.
“I have tremendous credibility as a civil rights attorney. … I thank the president for spending prompt action of getting the attorney general involved in this and the county district attorney for filing charges,” Terrell said. “But, what cannot happen is this Democratic silence.”
On Friday, congressional Democrats announced they plan to hold hearings on racial violence and use of force by police.
“What we are going to look at very specifically is where and under what circumstances the federal government can step in when local governments are engaging in or not stopping or controlling violence against racial minorities,” said New York Rep. Jerry Nadler. “In terms of maintaining social peace in this country, it is imperative that we move ahead quickly.”
