"If we're not careful, this is one small step away from the President of the United States designating his political opponents as enemies of the state, as terrorists. Think about the repercussions of this. People may say what would such a designation look like. First, there is no domestic terrorism law on the books in the United States, so let's deal with that first. Number two, there is no approved procedure by which you could designate a domestic terrorism group, just like there is for foreign terrorist organizations."

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. Maya Angelou

Here's how this scene was viewed live in Australia. One of America's closest and most dependable allies. Rendered speechless. Just watch.

Remember when Erdogan's goons beat up protesters in DC and Trump said nothing? Remember when Trump praised Putin for being a strong leader, who, ok, once in a while had journalists killed? We shouldn't be shocked now by any of the strongarm tactics coming out of the WH in response to all protests, even peaceful ones.

In a truly Trumpian twist, he'll probably go after Twitter for suppressing rightwing voices!

In footage that spread widely online, a man identified as Bartels, who faces charges of vandalism and rioting, wore a bandanna emblazoned with the symbol of the Animal Liberation Front, a leaderless international resistance movement that pushes for animal rights. In the footage, he raised his middle fingers to black protesters who begged him to stop. At Bartels's home in a Pittsburgh suburb, officers found spray paint and firearms, according to an arrest warrant reviewed by The Washington Post.

In footage that spread widely online, a man identified as Bartels, who faces charges of vandalism and rioting, wore a bandanna emblazoned with the symbol of the Animal Liberation Front, a leaderless international resistance movement that pushes for animal rights. In the footage, he raised his middle fingers to black protesters who begged him to stop. At Bartels's home in a Pittsburgh suburb, officers found spray paint and firearms, according to an arrest warrant reviewed by The Washington Post.

"#1 and #2 The thread link is NBC, post #1 is a CBS link. The only people not buying are the ignorant Antifa wanna-be's here."

A former friend of Bartels who corresponded with him for several years before they had a falling out in May said Bartels never once mentioned antifa, some of whose adherents favor aggressive tactics.

The friend, a 17-year-old who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she feared online harassment, said Bartels was militant about veganism but otherwise espouses views that do not fall neatly along ideological lines. Another teenager who moved in the city's pop-punk scene with Bartels said Bartels loathed establishment forces, no matter their partisan makeup. But neither understood why Bartels would have smashed a police vehicle in broad daylight, as police accuse him of doing.

Watching Trump preen in front of St. John's, moments after he threatened to deploy the American military against the American people, with a bible held above his head, I remembered this quote, "when facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross"

Arrest Warrant Issued For Brian Bartels, Police Say He Started Saturday Riots In Pittsburgh. He is facing charges institutional vandalism, rioting, and reckless endangerment of another person. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
pittsburgh.cbslocal.com
#1 | POSTED BY GRACIEAMAZED

Brian J. Bartels turned himself in Monday afternoon and was being questioned by detectives.

MFA:

As protests were taking place in multiple states across the U.S. Sunday night, the newly created account, @ANTIFA_US, tweeted, "Tonight's the night, Comrades," with a brown raised fist emoji and "Tonight we say 'F--- The City' and we move into the residential areas... the white hoods.... and we take what's ours ... "

This isn't the first time Twitter has taken action against fake accounts engaged in hateful conduct linked to Identity Evropa, according to the spokesperson.

I hope the peaceful protesters act smart and live to fight another day:

All the protesters have to do to win is to observe the curfew and go home. The officer is under arrest. Trump is defeated and in hiding. The governors are appalled at him. But every day this goes on is a day that potentially breaks in Trump's favor. /1

Trump is desperately hoping that the protests will get worse and that the situation will rise to meet the rhetoric he's trying to apply to it. Every night that goes on that the protesters continue violence and looting works in his favor. /2

Provocateurs know this, too. They will continue to try to blend in with the legitimate protesters. I hope that the protesters listen to mayors like Mayor Bottoms of Atlanta. What happens next is in their control, not Trump's. /3x

I hope the peaceful protesters act smart and live to fight another day:

All the protesters have to do to win is to observe the curfew and go home. The officer is under arrest. Trump is defeated and in hiding. The governors are appalled at him. But every day this goes on is a day that potentially breaks in Trump's favor. /1

Trump is desperately hoping that the protests will get worse and that the situation will rise to meet the rhetoric he's trying to apply to it. Every night that goes on that the protesters continue violence and looting works in his favor. /2

Provocateurs know this, too. They will continue to try to blend in with the legitimate protesters. I hope that the protesters listen to mayors like Mayor Bottoms of Atlanta. What happens next is in their control, not Trump's. /3x

On @AC360, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, of the Episcopal Dioscese of Washington, says President Trump used St. John's for a photo op without her mission.

"I am outraged.

Pay attention, people, and don't take the bait:

Tom Nichols @RadioFreeTom

Firing teargas into them is the bait. Trump was hoping that this whole thing would explode in violence while he was on stage, so that he could look tough. He wants the protesters to act in a way that will justify the rhetoric he's trying to apply to this situation.

Pay attention, people, and don't take the bait:

Tom Nichols @RadioFreeTom

Firing teargas into them is the bait. Trump was hoping that this whole thing would explode in violence while he was on stage, so that he could look tough. He wants the protesters to act in a way that will justify the rhetoric he's trying to apply to this situation.

The grown ups have long since left the building, and now it seems the country:

Susan Hennessey @Susan_Hennessey

I wonder if Jim Mattis, who claimed he would know the moment to speak out when he saw it, has any thoughts to share this evening?

Keeping your powder dry as your soul slowly turns to dust.

I was half expecting God Almighty to smote POTUS while he stood holding the Bible on the steps of St. John's Church.

Wow:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

100% Correct. Thank you Tom!

Quote Tweet
Tom Cotton @TomCottonAR

Anarchy, rioting, and looting needs to end tonight.

If local law enforcement is overwhelmed and needs backup, let's see how tough these Antifa terrorists are when they're facing off with the 101st Airborne Division.

We need to have zero tolerance for this destruction.

MFA:

"If you were out protesting last night, you probably need to go get a COVID test this week," said Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms at a news briefing Sunday, "because there's still a pandemic in America that's killing black and brown people at higher numbers."

Nailed it here too:

I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back. So let's not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.

And here:

I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting " that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation's long journey to live up to our highest ideals.

Let's get to work.

Trump wants to get back to MAGA rallies where he can lie for an hour straight uninterrupted and lead chants like "Build the wall!" and "Lock 'em up!"

MFA:

Without offering specifics, he promised to "deal with institutional racism" and set up a police oversight body in his first 100 days in office, if elected.

"I really do believe that the blinders have been taken off. I think this tidal wave is moving," Biden later told the mayors of Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and St. Paul, Minnesota. "I realize we've got to do something big, we can do it, and everyone will benefit from it."

MFA:

Without offering specifics, he promised to "deal with institutional racism" and set up a police oversight body in his first 100 days in office, if elected.

"I really do believe that the blinders have been taken off. I think this tidal wave is moving," Biden later told the mayors of Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and St. Paul, Minnesota. "I realize we've got to do something big, we can do it, and everyone will benefit from it."

Houston Police Chief @ArtAcevedo: "Let me just say this to the President of the United States, on behalf of the police chiefs of this country: please, if you don't have something constructive to say, keep your mouth shut."