June 23, 2020
By: Staff Report
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump authorized the arrest of anyone vandalizing or destroying monuments, statues, or other federal property in the United States.
President Trump made the announcement Tuesday morning on Twitter.
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, or such other laws that may be pertinent…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 23, 2020
The violators could face up to 10 – years in prison, in accordance with the Veteran’s Memorial Preservation Act.
Nationally, the Black Lives Matter Movement have desecrated or completely destroyed monuments that are believed to be historically racist.
In Washington D.C. rioters attacked the statue of Polish-American hero Tadeusz Kościuszko in Washington DC despite his efforts to free slaves. According to Wikipedia, Kosciuszko left instructions in his will, that part of his fortune was to be used to buy out and free slaves and those freed slaves were to be given an education.
Also in D.C., the steps leading up to the Lincoln Memorial were spray painted. The same area that Martin Luther King J.R., spoke during the Prayer Pilgrimage in 1957.
In the wake of last night's demonstrations, there are numerous instances of vandalism to sites around the National Mall. For generations the Mall has been our nation’s premier civic gathering space for non-violent demonstrations, and we ask individuals to carry on that tradition. pic.twitter.com/LmIHfW2AHj
— National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) May 31, 2020
The President added in a second tweet, “the action is taken, effective immediately, but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused.”