Late Thursday, President Donald Trump tweeted his first public statement about the riots in Minneapolis, which started as a result of the murder of George Floyd and the city’s subsequent inaction against the police officers who killed him. Trump tweeted that “these THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!”
That invoked a Civil Rights-era statement about quelling protests with state violence and earned Trump his second flag in a week, with the company saying the tweet “violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence.”
….These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
“However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public’s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible,” it continued.
This comes on the heels of several nights of protests, riots and civil unrest in Minneapolis, including a dramatic scene in which police retreated from a local precinct as it burned in the night. On Friday morning, CNN reporter Omar Jiminez was arrested on live television while asking cops where he should move his camera crew.
That’s all a lot for the people of Minneapolis to deal with, as they try to protest injustice and stay safe in the streets. Here is how a few local Christian leaders are responding to the unrest.
Edrin Williams, pastor of The Sanctuary
Carmen Means, Senior Pastor of The Movement
If you’ve been silent this entire time – then remain silent!! DO NOT SCOLD THE ACTIOND OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WERE TOO SCARED TO SPEAK UP FOR !!!
— Carmen Means (@Move_with_PC) May 28, 2020
Reverend Emmy Kegler, Pastor of Grace Lutheran
Eric Hoffer, Pastor in North Minneapolis
Steve Weins, pastor, author and host of The Good Word
JaNaé Bates, Director of Communications for ISAIAH, a Minnesota-Based Faith Group Coalition
Because Mpls Police Dept. is a rogue agency, killing Black Folx with impunity & inciting violence in peaceful protests, the National Guard is stepping in. Prayerfully they can get a handle on MPD, since they don't listen to anyone but themselves. #EnoughMPD #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd
— JaNaé Bates (@FavoredJae) May 28, 2020
RELEVANT will continue to update this article as more local leaders speak out.
