Several big-city mayors that have seen upticks in violent crime and escalating clashes between police and protesters are demanding federal agents be withdrawn from their cities —…
Several big-city mayors that have seen upticks in violent crime and escalating clashes between police and protesters are demanding federal agents be withdrawn from their cities — and any plans for more federal deployments be halted.
In two separate letters — one addressed to Attorney General Bill Barr and Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and the other to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both Democrats, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican — the mayors expressed objection to the presence of federal agents conducting law enforcement activities in their cities without coordinating with local authorities.
«Deployment of federal forces in the streets of our communities has not been requested nor is it acceptable,» the letter reads.
Both letters are signed by Portland, Ore., Mayor Ted Wheeler; Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot; Washington D. C., Mayor Muriel Bowser; Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Kansas Cty, Mo., Mayor Quinton Lucas.
The Trump administration has come under heavy criticism from Democrats and activists over the actions of federal agents during ongoing demonstrations — some of which have turned violent — against police brutality and racial injustice.
Many have been seen in videos circulating widely online wearing military gear without identification and whisking people away in unmarked vehicles.
