RTSun, 23 Aug 2020 18:19 UTC
© TwitterVarious scenes of confrontation and violence in Denver, CO in late August, 2020
Dozens of anti-police protesters have been swarming around downtown Denver, Colorado, setting fires and smashing windows, with authorities seemingly struggling to contain the hit-and-run violence.
Police officers in riot gear were seen guarding the Denver Police Department on Saturday night, but elsewhere across downtown Denver, local reporters described
"ugly scenes" of arson and vandalism.
Police conducted eight arrests as smaller groups of rioters have been running rampant, apparently using guerilla tactics and largely avoiding direct clashes, but throwing fireworks and other projectiles at the officers.
The chaos follows a public call to 'Give 'Em Hell' shared on social media over the past week, urging "action and demonstration in the wake of the city council's decision to deprive the people of Denver the right to shape their community and vote to abolish the police."
Comment: Trump
repeated his veiled threat to sort out Democrat-run cities if they can't quell the violence on their own:
President Donald Trump has offered federal assistance to the mayors of cities dealing with violent "antigovernment" protests, saying he can "solve [the] problem fast" if they can't properly police their own communities.
The tweet comes as multiple cities saw Black Lives Matter-related protests again devolve into violence over the weekend, including Portland, Oregon, and Denver, Colorado.
Trump previously deployed federal agents to Portland after protesters targeted a federal courthouse by attempting to start a fire on the property. Though the tactics of the officers in dealing with protesters were controversial, and the president agreed to allow the city's mayor to take control in dealing with the ongoing demonstrations, violence in the city has prompted him to threaten a more federal response several times.
On Saturday, he offered the services of the National Guard to help control the "rioting" in the city, promising this would "end the problem immediately."
Unfortunately, the president is in a bind. Though his base (and all normal people) would be glad to the violence ended and the perpetrators punished, it would hand his opponents the opportunity to portray him as the fascist they've always claimed he is. And the citizenry suffer.
RC