June 2, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC — In response to President Trump’s remarks threatening to deploy the US military in cities and states, Local Progress released the following statement:
“It is clear that the President of the United States is blatantly overstepping his authority and disregarding the systemic issues at the center of public outrage. In threatening military violence and lethal force, he has sounded a dog whistle for violence against people who are protesting the unjust murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and the ongoing assault on Black lives in this country.
As a network of local elected officials across the country, we stand with all those calling for justice. We are inspired by the leadership displayed by community advocates and elected officials in Minneapolis who are creating space for righteous rage and collective action. They are developing community-led safety responses to protecting their neighborhoods. They are not seeking police escalation, curfews, and suppression. This is how we stand together and make change in this moment. It is why we denounce those who seek to deflect from this effort by militarizing our cities and seeking totalitarian-like rule in this nation. We will not allow further harm to be done to our communities.
Our cities and communities are calling for the fundamental reshaping of our society through the dismantling of racist institutions that uphold white supremacy.
It’s time to listen. We are ready to act.”
