The US Justice Department announced charges against four men accused of damaging a statue of President Andrew Jackson near the White House, when Donald Trump retweeted a series of ‘wanted’ posters for 15 people accused of vandalism.
All four people were charged with destruction of federal property in connection with their alleged effort to tear down the Jackson statue in Lafayette Square on June 22.
The bronze statue has been there since 1853.
Jackson, a populist admirer who says reformed Washington DC is a Trump hero, and Trump chose his portrait to hang in the Oval Office. Jackson’s detractors point out that he was a slave owner who defended the Trail of Tears policy of forcing Native Americans west of the Mississippi.
All four are Lee Michael Cantrell, 47, of Virginia; Connor Matthew Judd, 20, of Washington, DC; Ryan Lane, 37, of Maryland; and Graham Lloyd, 37, of Maine.
Monday night protesters are depicted trying to tear down the statue of Trump’s hero
Protesters used chains to try to tear down the bronze statue, which was placed there in 1853.
Judd was arrested Friday and appeared before the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on Saturday.
The complaint, which was revealed on Saturday, claims that on June 22, the four men participated in damaging the statue along with other protesters, while they were also captured on video ” trying to remove the statue from its base with a wooden board. and trying to pull the statue. statue down with the help of a yellow strap.
He also claims that there is video evidence showing “Lloyd when the wheels of the guns located at the base of the statue are broken and destroyed.”
The document says: “Lloyd is caught on video pulling the ropes in an effort to knock down the statue and deliver a hammer to an unidentified person involved in the incident.”
Lafayette Square, across from the White House, has been the scene of protests following George Floyd’s death on May 25 while in police custody in Minneapolis.
Protesters on Monday night once again gathered in Lafayette Square in Washington DC
A large crowd sang outside the White House on Monday, demanding justice for Floyd.
“This office remains steadfast in its commitment to protect the sacred First Amendment right of people to protest peacefully, but these charges should serve as a warning to those who choose to desecrate the statues and monuments that adorn our nation’s capital.” Acting US Attorney Michael R. Sherwin said.
At the Monday rally, protesters scribbled ‘killer scum’ on the statue’s pedestal, tied ropes and cords around the sculptured heads of Jackson and his horse, and soaked the marble base with yellow paint before the crowd began to pull the statute. base.
Dozens of law enforcement officers, led by the US Park Police, stormed the plaza and dispersed protesters.
The movement to overthrow or deface the monuments of Confederate war heroes and US presidents with poor civil rights records has angered the President.
Donald Trump tweeted a series of ‘wanted’ signs looking for information on vandals
The posters asked anyone who knew the photographed to report to the authorities.
The president signed an executive order on Friday to protect the statues.
On Friday, Trump signed an executive order aimed at protecting monuments and statues, making the issue a priority for the Justice Department.
“I just had the privilege of signing a very strong Executive Order that protects the Monuments, Monuments and Statues of the United States, and fights the recent Criminal Violence,” Trump announced on Twitter.
“Long prison terms for these illegal acts against our Great Country.”
Trump has derided efforts to tear down monuments, often calling them “fools.”
“I think a lot of the people who are knocking down the statues don’t even have a clue what the statue is, what it means, who it is when they knocked it down,” he said Wednesday.
‘Now they are looking at Jesus Christ, they are looking at George Washington, they are looking at Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson.
“It won’t happen, it won’t happen while I’m here.”
Trump shows on Friday the executive order he signed to protect monuments and statues
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