Attorney General Garland warns against violent protests, says DOJ 'strongly disagrees' with high

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

court ruling on Roe

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland tried to ward off violent protests to the Supreme Court's ruling Friday overturning its landmark abortion decision Roe v. Wade, asking protestors to remain peaceful.

"Advocates with different views on this issue have the right to, and will, voice their opinions," Garland said in a statement. "Peacefully expressing a view is protected by the First Amendment. But we must be clear that violence and threats of violence are not. The Justice Department will not tolerate such acts."

He added the Department of Justice "strongly disagrees" with the court's ruling and will "work tirelessly to protect and advance reproductive freedom."

"The Supreme Court has eliminated an established right that has been an essential component of women's liberty for half a century — a right that has safeguarded women's ability to participate fully and equally in society," Garland said. "And in renouncing this fundamental right, which it had repeatedly recognized and reaffirmed, the Court has upended the doctrine of stare decisis, a key pillar of the rule of law."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/attorney-general-garland-warns-against-violent-protests-says-doj-strongly-disagrees-with-high-court-ruling-on-roe/ar-AAYPNqp

Don't plan to get violent but at the same time I'm not turning the other cheek to these assholes.

[Coventina]

1. FUCK YOU GARLAND! How many women are going to DIE because of this????

But, gosh, we shouldn't get our little panties in a wad, now, should we?

[PatSeg]

2. We certainly are right to be outraged,

but as Attorney General, he is right to warn against using violence to express our outrage. Violent protest is how the right responds.

[rockfordfile]

11. I agree

[ForgedCrank]

36. I wish

more people could think like you do.
I completely understand the outrage, but we need to do this properly and not behave like the MAGA nuts.

[PatSeg]

37. Yes

Emotions are understandably high right now. We need to be careful not to lash out at the wrong people though. There are plenty of people who need to be held accountable and they probably enjoy watching Democrats attacking their own.

[ForgedCrank]

43. Exactly, perfectly on point.

They would love nothing better than some broken windows and a few fires on video to put on repeat on Fox News for the next 6 months.
We cannot afford to give them that, not even a little.

[PatSeg]

70. We've seen them do it before

even when the people responsible weren't even those on the left. Just imagine what they'd do if Democrats used violence to protest now, especially so close to the mid-terms.

[Occulus]

55. Those who would reject violence as an option

write a blank check of victory to those who would use violence against them.

[PatSeg]

73. No, I am sorry

I have to respectfully disagree. Violence only begets more violence and creates a lawless and ungovernable society, something that extremists on the right want. So far our institutions have been pushed to the limit and they are barely holding. One side of this ongoing conflict has to remain sane and reasonable, holding up the rule of law whenever and wherever possible. Otherwise this experiment in democracy fails and if it fails here, it will probably fail all over the world.

[The Grand Illuminist]

96. In extremely rare circumstances.....

There is no choice but.

Protests and marches have been well scouted to the point of ineffectiveness. Ignorance is one of the right's best weapons.

[DemocraticPatriot]

74. I agree.

Furthermore, the Republican party is doing all it can to eliminate every other available option to save our democratic republic...

[agingdem]

4. Please stop...

This isn't on Garland...Garland and the DOJ support abortion rights..he's saying protesting is part of our political discourse but keep it peaceful..nothing wrong with that

[Irish_Dem]

13. We are upset because we are not the violent criminals in our society.

He is lecturing and wagging his finger at the wrong people.

Edit to add NOT

[Scrivener7]

19. Exactly. And as always.

[agingdem]

25. No he's not...

he's not denying us the right to protest just no violence..and Garland just released a statement that says states cannot ban abortion-inducing drugs in the wake of Roe/Wade..he's on our side..

[Irish_Dem]

28. I do not take kindly to men telling me to sit down and shut up.

Especially when we are being treated like animals.

[Jedi Guy]

49. "Protest and make your voice heard, but don't break or burn things," to paraphrase.

I guess I'm not seeing the "sit down and shut up" portion of Garland's remarks. In fact, he said precisely the opposite. Stand up and talk, just don't break the law. I don't see anything controversial in his statement.

[Irish_Dem]

51. The men who violently committed treason are given a slap on the wrist.

While women get lectured on the proper way to behave.

We have been told that our entire lives.

Garland needs to STFU.

[Jedi Guy]

58. How is this any different than what is said after an African-American is killed by police?

It's the exact same thing. No one's saying don't be angry. No one's saying sit down and shut up. Get out in the streets, protest, make your voice heard, but do so lawfully and peacefully. This kind of statement in the wake of an emotionally charged incident is not unique to women. It's reminding people whose emotions are running high that those emotions don't give them license to break the law. I don't see an issue with that.

As for the J6ers, the ones prosecuted thus far have been sentenced in accordance with the laws on the books rather than with your, my, or anyone else's subjective sense of outrage. That's how the rule of law works.

If you think breaking things and burning stuff in the streets will restore reproductive freedom, have at it, I guess. I don't think it'll have that effect. I think it'll play right into the hands of the right by allowing them to point and say, "See, they do it too!" Violent protests in reaction to Roe being overturned would basically be an own goal.

[Irish_Dem]

64. Thank you for letting women decide what is best for them.

Not what is best for the white male power structure.

[agingdem]

76. so because Garland hasn't cuffed Trump and his enablers

he is somehow responsible for the the catastrophic undoing of Roe v Wade?..now that's a leap!...

[Irish_Dem]

77. Garland is being slammed for lecturing women when he should be doing his damn job.

He lectures women on proper behavior when he lets men who committed violent treason off the hook.

I did not say that he is responsible for Roe ending.

He needs to stop being sexist and do his job.

[Paladin]

80. +1000. Thank you. (nt)

[agingdem]

82. Remind me...how is Garland sexist?...

[Irish_Dem]

83. Men lecturing women on how to behave is no longer acceptable.

We are so used to men lecturing and admonishing women we think it is normal.

[agingdem]

84. no it's normal..and you can't put that on one man...

I remember no bank account/no credit card/no car in my name without my husband's signature..I was Mrs___, the wife of____
I've been called little lady, sweetheart, honey, bitch, ball-buster and c***..so I understand the rage...but it's still not because of Merrick Garland...

[Irish_Dem]

85. Garland picked the wrong day to be an a-hole.

[agingdem]

88. He said..protest no violence

he said states cannot deny the abortion pill...he's mad as hell for us..women...my rage is for the Hillary-haters, the non-voters, the "what have you got to lose" Trump voters, Bernie Sanders, the fucking media, and Comey... but not Merrick Garland...

[PatSeg]

33. Yes, we had four years

of a leader who promoted and encouraged violence. As head of the DOJ, he is right to advocate peaceful protest. The law does not protect violent expressions of dissent. Understandably emotions are running high right now and for good reason, but I think some people read something in Garland's words that were not there.

[ForgedCrank]

38. Unfortunately, that

is not an all inclusive determination.
It is sad, but there are some out there who will resort to violence and general lawlessness in times like this.
It is very sucks, but it only takes a few, and they are out there. It's a shame we even need to speak out against it since we should be promoting Democracy and the proper methods for dealing with our grievances instead.
I just hope there aren't people out there who are going to stain this entire movement for us. We do not need that right now, especially with the Jan 6th action moving forward on public display. There is a point to be made with all of that, and we can't have it ruined by a few who can't think straight.

[Irish_Dem]

39. The GOP is at war with us. Serious war. And we are being told to sit down and shut up.

And not fight back.

And being told how to fight back.

This is up to the women to make up their own minds how to fight.

Not white males in Washington DC.

[ForgedCrank]

42. I don't

disagree with those points.
But violence is something we need to openly denounce. It's important. Ignoring it would make us no better than they are, and we are better.
There are other ways to fight, and they are also far more effective. It just requires a level head and patience.

[Irish_Dem]

44. Having a level head and patience is what got us to this point.

With all due respect that is not going to win the war being waged against women right now.

[agingdem]

50. with all due respect..

rage got us January 6...the George Floyd BLM peaceful protests got us respect and we stopped making nice.....this is on the 2016 "what have you got to lose" Trump voting pricks...this is onTrump, McConnell, and the six assholes on the court..

[Irish_Dem]

54. Telling women how to think, feel, act is not going over very well today.

We have been lectured since birth by men.

[ForgedCrank]

52. It is my

opinion that relying on a shaky court decision for something this important is what got us to this point. We've been fighting with the wrong weapon all along. That can be argued til' the cows come home, but look at what just happened for validation.
It was the wrong way to address the issue, and now we are paying for that. We cannot keep repeating these mistakes.
If we go down the violent path, the only real result will be "Look Everyone, Violent Democrats Burning Down the Capitol" on loop for months on end on Fox News. That is ALL that will be accomplished, and the results of that will be catastrophic in November.
For the love of God, we need to stop giving them free ammunition.
It's very difficult, I know that, it is for me too. I want to stand up and actually DO something, but I know better. There is a proper way, and violence isn't it. It never is.

[Irish_Dem]

56. We must stop being so afraid of how the GOP will twist things.

No matter what we do they are going to smear us.

it is time to fight back, and fight hard.

[ForgedCrank]

57. I had to laugh

at how true that statement is.
Yes sir, they will most certainly smear us no matter what.
I'm just not willing to make it easy and give them free political tools to beat me with.

[Irish_Dem]

78. The fear described is typical of abuse victims who are terrified of triggering the abuser.

Americans have been bullied and abused by the GOP to the point we are afraid to do or say anything to avoid the abuse.

We all have a form of PTSD.

But we must stop being afraid of them and fight back.

The GOP is going to beat us up no matter what we do or don't do.
So we need to do the right thing and fight back.

[Scrivener7]

17. When you see a woman going through a "red mist" moment today, can you just

give her a minute?

We're all going to have them, so get used to it.

And don't tell us to stop.

[Irish_Dem]

22. Exactly. Our rights are taken away and we have to sit down and shut up.

Being told how to feel and act.

[Amishman]

30. which is why a caution like Garland's is particularly important

Shock and horror can provoke normally reasonable people to do unreasonable things.

[Scrivener7]

46. Right. Because pro choice women are prone to such unreasonable things.

What was it he said to the people picketing abortion clinics, often violently, again?

Oh, right. Nothing.

[agingdem]

32. No way..

I remember coat hanger induced abortions..and I remember being a terrified 22 year old, pregnant and bleeding, unable to obtain an abortion in Texas, enduring a twelve hour bus ride to New Mexico and three hours post procedure (no anesthetic) I was back on the bus with a bag of sanitary napkins...and yes I've the right to say stop..Garland is not the go-to bogeyman..this is Trump, McConnell, and the six assholes on the court...

[PatSeg]

35. "Trump, McConnell, and the six assholes on the court"

Exactly. Put the blame where it belongs.

I am so sorry you had to go through that.

[Coventina]

45. No, I will NOT stop. I will not be lectured to by a man today about how I should behave.

FUCK.THAT.SHIT!!!!

[Hortensis]

8. A lot of people have been attacking their allies, to the point of not even

bothering to wonder if they are and if they might need them.

Please connect the various dots that got us to this point at the center of a perfect storm of bad behaviors. This's one of the real big ones.

[Emile]

10. I blame Trump, not Garland.

[Scrivener7]

47. I blame Garland for Garland's dumbass comment.

[Polybius]

12. He should have replaced Scalia

He would not have voted to end Roe.

[Cha]

72. Hey! Garland didn't do this!!! He said "No Violence"

Which I agree with! It Doesn't Get Us ANYWHERE!!

Advocates with different views on this issue have the right to, and will, voice their opinions," Garland said in a statement. "Peacefully expressing a view is protected by the First Amendment. But we must be clear that violence and threats of violence are not. The Justice Department will not tolerate such acts."

He added the Department of Justice "strongly disagrees" with the court's ruling and will "work tirelessly to protect and advance reproductive freedom."

I say "FUCK OFF" to the Extreme Court?!
💙💛

[EndlessWire]

86. He's just trying to avoid

violence. He never said not to be upset; he, in fact, said that DOJ disagrees with the decision, and specifically is upset over the violation of the doctrine of stare decisis.

[superpatriotman]

3. Pro Choice does not equal Pro Violence

That's their side hustle.

[phylny]

7. Thank you for saying this

I just read a post on Facebook - a friend commented on it - about how "Pro-Life" clinics are so afraid of a backlash and afraid for their safety.

The irony.

[Irish_Dem]

18. MAGAs want to be the ones terrorizing others.

They cannot stand being on the receiving end.

[Scrivener7]

21. I have no problem with them getting back a little of what they have given out.

Bring it.

And show me Garland's warning to the pro forced birth people telling them not to bomb abortion clinics.

Oh, look. He never said anything about that.

[gratuitous]

20. Indeed

In the last five or six years, who has resorted to violence when they don't get their way? Hint: It wasn't the people demonstrating for justice in the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, or Ahmaud Arbery. While some of those demonstrations descended into violence, it usually happened after the cops or their white supremacist fellow travelers showed up to instigate it.

[The Magistrate]

5. Fuck This Guy

I'll acknowledge I am in a mood at present, but the proper response is to announce any crowd outside the court or a justice's home has a free hand, for the foreseeable future.

It should be made quite clear these birds are on their own in a country which hates their putrid guts.

[Irish_Dem]

15. +1

Perfectly stated.

[Scrivener7]

24. Honest to God. Right? Always pointing in the wrong direction.

[llmart]

79. +1000

Thank you!

[Paladin]

94. Well said. Thanks. (nt)

[onecaliberal]

6. WE ARE NOT THE VIOLENT FASCISTS, THEY ARE!

[Irish_Dem]

9. Why are liberals being warned to follow the law when MAGAs are the violent criminals?

[maxsolomon]

14. Well now all the angry women will dump out their Molotov cocktails.

The DOJ's tolerated the J6 Conspriators for a year and a half so far.

[Irish_Dem]

16. I guess women will have to stop using their assault rifles now.

[Irish_Dem]

23. Hey Garland get the GOP criminals instead of telling women how to think, feel and act.

[DLevine]

26. The violence and threats of violence are coming from the forced-birthers.

He needs to direct his attention to them.

[Thomas Hurt]

27. He can caution against it, but IMO, it is inevitable that agitators or some pro choice activist(s)

somewhere, sometime in the next several months someone is going to do just that. The protest organizers must be prepared for this very likely outcome. They must not shy from peaceful protest but they must watch for trouble.

Violence will not help the situation. The christofascists have already been spreading the propaganda that there will be widespread violence. The christofascists already consider anyone on the left a terrorist. Even while they ignore the violence of their own.

Any violence will give them an opportunity to further impose their oppression on citizens.

We can only hope that every single American who is angry and feeling betrayed keeps control of their tempers and rebukes any provocateurs peacefully.

Take your anger to the voting booth, make sure others do so.

[Irish_Dem]

41. The GOP in red states are rigging the election process.

Soon it will be the case that our votes don't count any more.

Men need to stop telling women if, when, and how to fight back.

[flor-de-jasmim]

29. Going back to the insurrectionists, M. Garland:

"But we must be clear that violence and threats of violence are not. The Justice Department will not tolerate such acts."

We're waiting for the hammer to come down on the Republic congresspeople who knew and/or actively participated.

[misanthrope]

31. "Have the right to voice their opinions

unless they annoy a Supreme Court justice and then protections will quickly be asserted for the privileged. However, if you want to threaten average poll workers, then feel free."

[musette_sf]

34. We have to 1/6 the fascists

and by that, I mean we need to do like we did on 1/6 - let them do their own violence and do not engage with them. They have already started their false flag “attacks” on their own damn fake “clinics”. Make sure all of their fake “attacks” are exposed.

[Irish_Dem]

40. Men who violently engaged in treason are given a slap on the wrist.

While women who have rights taken away, and have the GOP fighting a war against us are told how to fight back. Or not fight back, but to shut up and accept things.

[Ohio Joe]

48. President Biden also stressed keeping things peaceful...

I don't see anything wrong with it

[Irish_Dem]

53. Men have lectured women for ages about the "proper" way to think, feel and act.

Garland needs to STFU right now.

[KarenS]

67. I agree with you 100%

I am so angry right now,,,,

[Irish_Dem]

68. Yes. I cannot believe how men are telling us how to react and how to behave.

Men still lecturing and admonishing women in the 21st century.

I guess now that women are going to be barefoot and pregnant all the time, we are fair game.

[KarenS]

69. amazing, isn't it?

I am lucky, all of my childbearing years I could use contraception and most of them I could choose to have an abortion. My Granddaughters and future great-granddaughters will not.
I am horrified now.

[ecstatic]

59. Is there a red line for what we should and should not accept from this court?

Women are 2nd (some of us 3rd) class citizens in our own country now. Garland's response is offensive. Just shutup and take it?

[Mr.Bill]

61. Yes, there is. And they just crossed it. n/t

[ellie]

60. He can get bent

[The Grand Illuminist]

62. It won't make any difference.

Way too many angry people that will do anything to get results.

[LiberalFighter]

63. He should keep his mouth shut. What a dodo.

[moonshinegnomie]

65. violence is sometimes justified and needed

[choie]

66. Oh yeah?

then you should do your fucking job.

[DemocraticPatriot]

71. This SC ruling IS VIOLENCE against women and those who love them!!!

So as far as I am concerned, they are morally entitled to "self-defense" against such violence, by whatever means they choose.


Sorry Mr. AG, it is understood that this is the proper thing for you to say.

[Cha]

75. "Violence" Doesn't Get Us ANYWHERE!

I agree with the AG.

Yeah, I know it's popular to take it out on AG Garland now but I agree with him.

Advocates with different views on this issue have the right to, and will, voice their opinions," Garland said in a statement. "Peacefully expressing a view is protected by the First Amendment. But we must be clear that violence and threats of violence are not. The Justice Department will not tolerate such acts."

He added the Department of Justice "strongly disagrees" with the court's ruling and will "work tirelessly to protect and advance reproductive freedom."

💙💛

[DemocraticPatriot]

89. Violence bought this country's independence,

and violence freed the slaves.... Just sayin'.


I don't advocate for violence at this time--- but if it happens against those most responsible for this illegitimate decision, I won't shed a tear over it.


However, there may come a time-- if the Republicans are successful in their designs to subvert our votes, and seize power despite the will of the majority of voters--- there may come a time when they leave us no viable alternatives.

[Cha]

91. Why do you think RW Agitators

Infiltrated the BLM Protests to Loot & Destroy Property? Because.. to maks them Look BAD.

The Revolutionary Was & the Civil War were, of course, Necessary. But I think these National Protest should be Peaceful and Powerful..

Violence is distracting from their Purpose.. Protest & GOTV.. Save Our Democracy at the Polls!

Not saying it won't ever get to Civil War, though.

💙💛

[The Grand Illuminist]

92. Exactly

One does not have to be pro violence or advocating violence to realize that there may be no choice in the matter. Violence is the last resort where all peaceful and civilized options are used up. This is very close to where american society is at now.

[Lancero]

93. Very close? The SC wants to turn half our nation into brood mares.

I think we've just jumped that line.

[The Grand Illuminist]

95. Then sacrifices must be made.

To go on the offensive.

[gulliver]

81. Or any protest at all...

Hopefully we'll just have another round of the kind of protests that appeared after the leak of today's decision a while back. Those protests, while damaging, probably didn't set the cause of abortion rights back too much. They were peaceful and they went away fairly fast.

If we can get by the protests without something dumb and anti-persuasive happening, then we have a chance to stand for abortion rights by voting and organizing and gain them back.

This is a prime chance for Republican false flag types, by the way. They would absolutely love to see the left make a complete ass of itself, and they're in no way above masquerading as "leftwing" fools and rottens to make that "appear to happen."

[aocommunalpunch]

90. Read some poetry at them while they run you down in their trucks. n/t