This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to use force against protestors in Washington, D.C., after a wave of nationwide demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd.
On Tuesday, Trump tweeted that he had authorized the Federal Government to arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys any monument, statue or other such Federal property in the U.S. with up to 10 years in prison.
"I have authorized the Federal Government to arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys any monument, statue or other such Federal property in the U.S. with up to 10 years in prison," Trump tweeted on June 23, 2020.
Trump also threatened to use "serious force" against protestors who try to set up an "autonomous zone" in Washington, D.C.
"There will never be an 'Autonomous Zone' in Washington, D.C., as long as I'm your President. If they try they will be met with serious force!" he wrote.
Twitter announced that Trump's use of threatening language violated its policies, and placed a warning tag on the "serious force" tweet.
Protestors in central Seattle created an "autonomous zone" two weeks ago, sparking outrage among conservatives.
The threats came one day after police used pepper spray to disperse demonstrators who tried to topple a statue of Andrew Jackson in a park next to the White House.
Andrew Jackson, who was president from 1829 to 1837, was targeted for his history as a slave owner and his brutal policies toward Native Americans.
Beginning in 1830, he forced the relocation of tens of thousands of native Americans from the southeast across the country on what was called the Trail of Tears.
