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US Attorney General Defends Clearing Park of Protesters Near White House

Ken Bredemeier

   WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney General William Barr has justified use of
   force to clear Lafayette Park across the street from White House last
   Monday evening of protesters just ahead of President Donald Trump
   walking through the park for a photo-op in front of a nearby church.

   "They were not peaceful protesters," Barr contended on CBS News's "Face
   the Nation" show. "And that's one of the big lies that the media is,
   seems to be perpetuating at this point."

   Barr, the top law enforcement official in the U.S., said protesters
   were given three warnings to clear the park before police and
   authorities clad in riot gear advanced on them, firing pepper balls.

   The police action against the protesters came in the midst of
   nationwide protests against the May 25 death of George Floyd, an
   African American man who was held face down by a white police officer
   on a street in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his knee on Floyd's neck
   for nearly nine minutes even as he said repeatedly he could not
   breathe.

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