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Washington Bishop Budde: Trump used our church as a prop

President Trump today used tear gas to disperse a peaceful crowd for a photo-op of him holding a Bible in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church.

[Update: Trump is demanding that “the media” retract the statement that tear gas was used. The Attorney General of United State personally ordered the forced removal of peaceful protestors.

Officers from the U.S. Park Police and other agencies used smoke canisters, riot shields, batons and officers on horseback to shove and chase people gathered to protest the death of George Floyd. At one point, a line of police rushed a group of protesters standing on H Street NW, many of whom were standing still with their hands up, forcing them to race away, coughing from smoke. Some were struck by rubber bullets.

As a consequence, Arlington County has pulled police from D.C. who were in Lafayette Square acting as mutual assistance.

The latest is that tear gas was used: (1) Washington Post: Trump demands journalists correct stories on the use of tear gas. According to the CDC, it was tear gas. (2) Vox: US Park Police denies using tear gas on peaceful protesters. Evidence suggests otherwise. The official statement raises more questions than it answers.]

Federal police officers then used force to clear a large crowd of peaceful demonstrators from the street between the White House and the church, apparently so Trump could make the visit.

“I am outraged,” Budde said in a telephone interview a short time later, pausing between words to emphasize her anger as her voice slightly trembled.
…
“I am the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and was not given even a courtesy call, that they would be clearing [the area] with tear gas so they could use one of our churches as a prop,” Budde said.

She noted that Trump stood in front of the church — its windows boarded up with plywood after demonstrators shattered glass there and in many other buildings on nearby streets Sunday night — holding a bible, “one that declares that God is love.”

Bishop Budde’s statement to the president:

Photo Credit: Roger Hutchison
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