Secretary of the Interior weighs in on ‘peaceful protest’ in Lafayette Square: ‘We will not bow to anarchists’

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt criticized protestors in Washington, D.C., after a tense Monday night of demonstrations that saw protestors attempt to topple the statue of President Jackson in Lafayette Square.

“I just left Lafayette Square where another so called ‘peaceful protest’ led to destruction tonight,” Bernhardt tweeted just before 11 p.m. Monday. “Let me be clear: we will not bow to anarchists. Law and order will prevail, and justice will be served.”

I just left Lafayette Square where another so called “peaceful protest” led to destruction tonight. Let me be clear: we will not bow to anarchists. Law and order will prevail, and justice will be served.

— Secretary David Bernhardt (@SecBernhardt) June 23, 2020

In the past couple of weeks, statues of Confederate soldiers and generals have been toppled across the country, including in D.C. Many believe that Jackson, who owned well over a 100 slaves and signed into law the Indian Removal Act of 1830, should not be celebrated, much less commemorated.

President Trump condemned the actions of the protesters Tuesday morning, saying, “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, per the Veteran’s Memorial Preservation Act.”

…..This action is taken effective immediately, but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused. There will be no exceptions!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 23, 2020