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"I'm sorry for the sake of my family who have been a bit worried. Over recent days, there's been too much venom. Unfortunately, it's the result of lies told by certain political forces which have poisoned the atmosphere and stirred up this dangerous climate of hatred."The decision to assign the escort, as Italy has begun to ease lockdown restrictions imposed almost three months ago, highlighted widespread public anger at the handling of both the health crisis and the lockdown measures.
"It was entirely to be expected. I was wondering how long it would take the mainstream media to find a Russian angle. Of course, there's not the slightest evidence for this, but that's to be expected. The people who are presenting this whole 'Russia is to blame' narrative, they still haven't got over 2016. It's a replay of the same Trump-Russia collusion story for which there has been no evidence."He predicted that the riots would ultimately end up helping US President Donald Trump politically, as more and more Americans demand a return to law and order. As such, Democrats are desperate to find some way of painting the mayhem as yet another sinister - and baseless - Trump-Russia conspiracy.
Herbert directed the National Guard to "help control the escalating situation" in Salt Lake City, while calling on protesters to behave peacefully.Washington, DC has also mobilized the National Guard, as local police have the added responsibility of protecting the White House:
"We are in close contact with our Department of Public Safety and receiving regular updates," the governor said.
Herbert's announcement came around the same time as Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall issued an 8pm curfew.
The guardsmen were mobilized after a request from the US Park Police, the DC National Guard (DCNG) commander, Major General William J. Walker said.
"The DCNG is always ready to assist District and Federal agencies to protect human life and property," he noted.
Protesters had earlier pushed security barricades further down Pennsylvania Avenue and climbed on the roofs of Secret Service vehicles outside the White House, demanding justice for George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died during an arrest attempt by a white officer earlier this week.
Comment: Disruption, death and defiance - life in 3-D has become unbearable to many, predictable by some, a calculated opportunity to the few.