A demonstrator holds up a "Black Lives Matter" sign during an anti-racism protest in Rochester, New York, US, on September 6, 2020. (Photo by Reuters)
The US Justice Department has threatened to withhold federal funding from anti-racism protest-hit cities, claiming liberal cities were allowing "anarchy and violence" on their streets as it escalated the Trump administrations attacks on Democratic-led cities.
"We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry (in New York City, Seattle and Portland, Oregon) hangs in the balance," Attorney General William Barr said in a statement.
Barr, last week, urged federal prosecutors to consider sedition charges against anti-racism protesters who have engaged in violent activity.
Mondays threat to revoke federal funds was the governments latest escalation in its crackdown on anti-police brutality protests that have turned to big headache for President Donald Trump ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
The Unites States has been rocked by anti-racism protests after the killing of African American George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in late May.
Police shooting of another black man, Jacob Blake Jr., in Kenosha, Wisconsin last month sparked fresh racial tensions across the US.
The federal government has mounted a campaign to disperse the protests, including by sending federal forces into Portland and Seattle and encouraging federal prosecutors to bring charges.
More than 200 Americans have been charged with "violent crimes" related to the anti-racism protests since June.
Trump earlier this month issued a memo laying out criteria to consider when reviewing funding for states and cities that are "permitting anarchy, violence, and destruction in American cities."
In New York City, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, the Justice Department said, the leadership has rejected efforts to allow federal forces to intervene and "restore order", among other things.
New York City Corporation Counsel Jim Johnson said, "The designation of anarchy doesnt even pass the common sense test. If need be we can send, in addition to our legal filings, a dictionary. Because what we have in New York is not anarchy."
He promised a court battle if the Trump administration proceeds to cut off the funds.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan accused the Trump administration of playing politics and said withholding federal funds would be illegal.
"This is thoroughly political and unconstitutional. The president is playing cheap political games with congressionally directed funds. Our cities are bringing communities together; our cities are pushing forward after fighting back a pandemic and facing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, all despite recklessness and partisanship from the White House," they said.
Black Lives Matter protest organizers, alongside others demand an end to police brutality and racial discrimination in the US.
Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, has condemned disorder at demonstrations, and has defended peaceful protesters, arguing justice must be served in cases of "unwarranted police violence."
Biden accused Trump of fomenting violence, saying that, "Fires are burning and we have a president who fans the flames rather than fighting the flames."
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/20439
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