The order follows Trump’s calls for 10-year prison sentences for protesters who tear down monuments.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday directing federal law enforcement agencies to prosecute people who damage federal monuments — and to withhold portions of federal funding to cities that don’t protect statues from demonstrators.
The order marks the latest in Trump’s ongoing battle against protesters who have pushed for the removal of monuments and statues that memorialize Confederate leaders, and other figures who supported slavery, white supremacy, or colonialism. Several monuments have been torn down or removed in recent weeks amid protests against police brutality and racism, including statues of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Alabama and Confederate Gen. Albert Pike in Washington, DC.
Trump responded to the removal of the statue in Washington by tweeting, “These people should be immediately arrested. A disgrace to our Country!” and with the order, has provided a framework for arrests to be made.
The order directs the Department of Justice to “prosecute to the fullest extent permitted under Federal law” people who damage government monuments, participate in “efforts to incite violence,” or damage religious property. Damaging federal property can be punished by up to 10 years in prison.
Trump also included a directive to withhold federal funding to cities and local law enforcement agencies that have “surrendered to mob rule” by making no attempts to stop protesters from damaging monuments. It’s unclear, however, to what extent the administration could actually enforce this provision.
Trump announced the edict on Twitter, hours after tweeting a poster from the FBI seeking information about 15 people alleged to have been involved in attempting to tear down a statue of Andrew Jackson near the White House on Monday night, and calling for all 15 to face “10 year prison sentences!”
The statues of Confederates and others who advanced white supremacist ideals have become a campaign issue for the president as he re-engages with his reelection campaign.
