Yesterday in Washington, DC in Lafayette Park across from the White (Supremacist) House, large crowds of protesters gathered in a peaceful protest, holding signs and chanting "hands up, don't shoot". Facing them were U.S. Park Police, National Guard military police and some special units of the uniformed Secret Service. Suddenly, they advanced on the protesters, firing tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades, as they cleared the area with horse-mounted police and shield-bearing foot police. It was a momentary mystery why, some 30 minutes before the curfew began in DC, there was the need to clear the area so violently.
The answer became clear soon enough: narcissistic demagogue and coward Donald "Two Corinthians" Trump (a.k.a. #BunkerBoy) wanted to use historic St. John's church on Lafayette Park for a brief photo op for his right-wing religious base and to show he wasn't twitching in his bunker, so the peaceful demonstrators had to be physically roughed up and moved out. After arriving, Trump stood outside the church holding a Bible (upside down!) provided to him as a prop, showing it in the same manner he displays the Executive Orders he signs.
The irony that Trump used violence to enable his photo op with the church as a backdrop wasn't lost on the Episcopal bishop of Washington, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde. She excoriated him for using a church in her diocese as a prop:
“I am outraged,” Budde said in a telephone interview a short time later, pausing between words to emphasize her anger as her voice slightly trembled.
She said she had not been given any notice that Trump would be visiting the church and did not approve of the manner in which the area was secured for his appearance.
“I am the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and was not given even a courtesy call, that they would be clearing [the area] with tear gas so they could use one of our churches as a prop,” Budde said.
She excoriated the president for standing in front of the church — its windows boarded up with plywood — holding up a Bible, which Budde said “declares that God is love.”Earlier, Trump delivered a belligerent, authoritarian message aimed at his base, calling himself the "President of law and order." Trump threatened States with Federal troops if "order" was not restored quickly, calling on them to "dominate" the protestors. He's clearly rattled and his go-to move is always threatening violence like a tin-pot dictator when things don't go his way. But hold that Bible up for the cameras anyway.
“Everything he has said and done is to inflame violence,” Budde of the president. “We need moral leadership, and he’s done everything to divide us.” (our emphasis)
BONUS: Lots of anger being expressed. More here.
Trump fired tear gas and rubber bullets on peaceful protestors so he could get a photo opp in front a church that didn’t want him there, holding a Bible from which he cannot name a single verse, all to prove he’s not a coward hiding in his bunker again. A perfect encapsulation.— Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) June 2, 2020
Send us a sign. pic.twitter.com/bjGNenu9XW— Schooley (@Rschooley) June 1, 2020
The President had peaceful protesters shot with tear gas and rubber bullets so he could get his picture taken.— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) June 1, 2020
To be fair he pretty much does everything so he can get his picture taken. https://t.co/Bmnrq3Y6Ff— Schooley (@Rschooley) June 2, 2020
UPDATE: #BunkerBoy, with Melon in tow today, pulled another photo op stunt at a religious site, with this reaction:
President Trump triggered sharp condemnation from top religious leaders for the second time in two days on Tuesday, with Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory slamming his visit to a D.C. shrine honoring Pope John Paul II. [snip]
“I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles, which call us to defend the rights of all people, even those with whom we might disagree,” Gregory said in a statement as Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Northeast Washington. [snip]
“Saint Pope John Paul II was an ardent defender of the rights and dignity of human beings. His legacy bears vivid witness to that truth," Gregory said. "He certainly would not condone the use of tear gas and other deterrents to silence, scatter or intimidate them for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace.” (our emphasis)
#BunkerBoy should have stayed in his bunker.
