June 1 2020 Statement Protests Against Police Brutality

### About this speech Donald Trump June 01, 2020 Source The White House On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officers killed George Floyd, an African American man, by knelling on his neck. His murder was videotaped, and protests against the police brutality of African Americans and other communities of color took place across the country. President Donald Trump makes a statement after a weekend of protests, some of which involved violence, and he pledges to bring federal resources to stop the unrest. [Presidential Speeches](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches) | Donald Trump Presidency ## June 1, 2020: Statement on Protests Against Police Brutality [Play Video](https://d4q9blt8qjhv3.cloudfront.net/americanpresident/video/President_Trump_Delivers_Remarks_Statement_on_Protests_and_Unrest.mp4)   Fast-forward 10 seconds 0:00 [ Download audio ](https://d4q9blt8qjhv3.cloudfront.net/americanpresident/audio/President_Trump_Delivers_Remarks_Statement_on_Protests_and_Unrest.mp3 "\(opens in a new window\)") Embed Your browser does not support the video tag. [Miller Center: June 1, 2020: Statement on Protests Against Police Brutality ](https://uvamiller.prod.acquia-sites.com/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/june-1-2020-statement-protests-against-police-brutality) Download media * [Download Full Video](https://d4q9blt8qjhv3.cloudfront.net/americanpresident/video/President_Trump_Delivers_Remarks_Statement_on_Protests_and_Unrest.mp4?download=1) * [Download Au
dio](https://d4q9blt8qjhv3.cloudfront.net/americanpresident/audio/President_Trump_Delivers_Remarks_Statement_on_Protests_and_Unrest.mp3?download=1) View Transcript ### Transcript Thank you very much. My fellow Americans: My first and highest duty as President is to defend our great country and the American people. I swore an oath to uphold the laws of our nation, and that is exactly what I will do. All Americans were rightly sickened and revolted by the brutal death of George Floyd. My administration is fully committed that, for George and his family, justice will be served. He will not have died in vain. But we cannot allow the righteous cries and peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob. The biggest victims of the rioting are peace-loving citizens in our poorest communities, and as their President, I will fight to keep them safe. I will fight to protect you. I am your President of law and order, and an ally of all peaceful protesters. But in recent days, our nation has been gripped by professional anarchists, violent mobs, arsonists, looters, criminals, rioters, Antifa, and others. A number of state and local governments have failed to take necessary action to safeguard their residence. Innocent people have been savagely beaten, like the young man in Dallas, Texas, who was left dying on the street, or the woman in Upstate New York viciously attacked by dangerous thugs. Small-business owners have seen their dreams utterly destroyed. New York’s Finest have been h
it in the face with bricks. Brave nurses, who have battled the virus, are afraid to leave their homes. A police precinct station has been overrun. Here in the nation’s capital, the Lincoln Memorial and the World War Two Memorial have been vandalized. One of our most historic churches was set ablaze. A federal officer in California, an African American enforcement hero, was shot and killed. These are not acts of peaceful protest. These are acts of domestic terror. The destruction of innocent life and the spilling of innocent blood is an offense to humanity and a crime against God. America needs creation, not destruction; cooperation, not contempt; security, not anarchy; healing, not hatred; justice, not chaos. This is our mission, and we will succeed. One hundred percent, we will succeed. Our country always wins. That is why I am taking immediate presidential action to stop the violence and restore security and safety in America. I am mobilizing all available federal resources--civilian and military--to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson, and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your Second Amendment rights. Therefore, the following measures are going into effect immediately: First, we are ending the riots and lawlessness that has spread throughout our country. We will end it now. Today, I have strongly recommended to every governor to deploy the National Guard in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets. Mayors and gover
nors must establish an overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled. If a city or a state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them. I am also taking swift and decisive action to protect our great capital, Washington, D.C. What happened in this city last night was a total disgrace. As we speak, I am dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel, and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults, and the wanton destruction of property. We are putting everybody on warning: Our seven o’clock curfew will be strictly enforced. Those who threaten innocent life and property will be arrested, detained, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I want the organizers of this terror to be on notice that you will face severe criminal penalties and lengthy sentences in jail. This includes Antifa and others who are leading instigators of this violence. One law and order and that is what it is: one law. We have one beautiful law. And once that is restored and fully restored, we will help you, we will help your business, and we will help your family. America is founded upon the rule of law. It is the foundation of our prosperity, our freedom, and our very way of life. But where there is no law, there is no opportunity. Where there is no justice, there i
s no liberty. Where there is no safety, there is no future. We must never give in to anger or hatred. If malice or violence reigns, then none of us is free. I take these actions today with firm resolve and with a true and passionate love for our country. By far, our greatest days lie ahead. Thank you very much. And now I’m going to pay my respects to a very, very special place. Thank you very much. View Transcript Previous [April 23, 2020: Task Force Briefing on the Coronavirus Pandemic ](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/april-23-2020-task-force-briefing-coronavirus-pandemic) Next [June 13, 2020: Address at West Point Graduation](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/june-13-2020-address-west-point-graduation) ### More Donald Trump speeches [View all Donald Trump speeches](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches?field_president_target_id\[8396\]=8396) [June 13, 2020: Address at West Point Graduation](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/june-13-2020-address-west-point-graduation) video icon audio icon transcript icon [June 20, 2020: Campaign Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/june-20-2020-campaign-rally-tulsa-oklahoma) video icon audio icon transcript icon [July 4, 2020: Remarks at Salute to America](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/july-4-2020-remarks-salute-america) video icon audio icon transcript icon [August 8, 2020: Press Conference on Executive Orders](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/august-8-2020-press-conference-executive-o
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