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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEpiscopal bishop blocked from vigil at church Trump commandeered ... then a good thing happened
If it seems like it was only days ago that Donald Trump was demanding governors open churches despite the threat of the coronavirus, thats because it was. From Rand Paul to William Barr to Mike Pence, Republicans have been ready and more than willing to label attempts to protect public health by limiting church services as tyranny, beyond the pale, and a war on values.
Oddly enough, none of those voices were raised when Donald Trump drove priests away from St. Johns Episcopal church with tear gas and armed troops, or when he commandeered that church for a photo op, or when that church was absorbed within Trumps extended Yellow Zone as he built a fence around Lafayette Park. There were also no cries of tyranny when federal police kept Bishop Mariann Buddethe same bishop who protested Trumps un-Christian use of the churchfrom returning to St. Johns on Wednesday to hold a vigil in support of protesters.
In a Thursday afternoon press appearance, Attorney General William Barr rewrote the history of the events on Monday evening yet again as he claimed that he had already made the decision to expand the perimeter around the White House well in advance of troops blasting protesters from the area. In Barrs telling, he personally saw projectiles being thrown from the protestersa claim that has been denied by reporters on the scene. Barr also claimed that protesters were interfering with the operation of the federal government. So there was no choice but to blast the crowd with rubber bullets, flash-bangs, and tear gas, driving the protesters from the square and the priests from their church. Barr admitted that some of the protesters might have been peaceful and
so what?
That Trump then decided to stroll over for a photo op was, according to Barr, a mere coincidence. After all, Trump should be able to walk outside the White House and walk to the 'church of presidents any time he wants
apparently no matter how many people have to be hurt to make that happen.
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https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/6/4/1950417/-Episcopal-bishop-blocked-from-vigil-at-church-Trump-commandeered-then-a-good-thing-happened#comment_77532137
captain queeg
(10,148 posts)Retrograde
(10,132 posts)with his specious reasoning that he has to block off the church just in case Dear Leader wants to walk over there sometime.
LiberalArkie
(15,708 posts)Though Trump and Barr blocked the bishop and church members from holding their vigil, other members of the clergy and pastors of other churches found their way to where Budde was sitting.
What started out as an attempt to demonstrate solidarity and support became
a moment of solidarity and support.