Sep 21, 2020
The Department of Justice on Monday designated New York City, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon as "jurisdictions permitting anarchy, violence, and destruction," prompting many critics to fire back with accusations of Trump administration authoritarianism and calls to impeach Attorney General William Barr.
The DOJ move is in response to a September 2 memorandum from President Donald Trump accusing several state and local governments of contributing to "violence and destruction in their jurisdictions by failing to enforce the law, disempowering and significantly defunding their police departments, and refusing to accept offers of federal law enforcement assistance." In the memo Trump vows to "not allow federal tax dollars to fund cities that allow themselves to deteriorate into lawless zones."
\u201cDepartment of Justice Identifies New York City, Portland and Seattle as Jurisdictions Permitting Violence and Destruction of Property \nhttps://t.co/CvqKwNIQTw\u201d— Justice Department (@Justice Department) 1600689355
"Within 30 days...the director of the OMB [Office of Management and Budget] shall issue guidance...on restricting eligibility of...anarchist jurisdictions in the receipt of federal grants," the memo states.
The criteria for evaluating whether a city is an "anarchist jurisdiction" were as follows:
- Whether a jurisdiction forbids the police force from intervening to restore order amid widespread or sustained violence or destruction.
- Whether a jurisdiction has withdrawn law enforcement protection from a geographical area or structure that law enforcement officers are lawfully entitled to access but have been officially prevented from accessing or permitted to access only in exceptional circumstances, except when law enforcement officers are briefly withheld as a tactical decision intended to resolve safely and expeditiously a specific and ongoing unlawful incident posing an imminent threat to the safety of individuals or law enforcement officers.
- Whether a jurisdiction disempowers or defunds police departments.
- Whether a jurisdiction unreasonably refuses to accept offers of law enforcement assistance from the Federal Government.
- Any other related factors the attorney general deems appropriate.
"When state and local leaders impede their own law enforcement officers and agencies from doing their jobs, it endangers innocent citizens who deserve to be protected, including those who are trying to peacefully assemble and protest," said Barr. "We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance."
A congresswoman representing most of Seattle and the mayor of the largest of the three "anarchist jurisdictions" were among those who quickly fired back at the administration.
"This is not just unlawful but it's also a prime example of this president's failed leadership and desperation," Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said of the DOJ's designations. "Amidst Covid-19's devastation, people need more relief--not less. Yet Trump would prefer to turn your attention away from real crises by fearmongering and fanning racism."
\u201cThis is not just unlawful but it's also a prime example of this president\u2019s failed leadership and desperation. Amidst COVID19's devastation, people need more relief\u2014not less. Yet Trump would prefer to turn your attention away from real crises by fearmongering and fanning racism.\u201d— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@Rep. Pramila Jayapal) 1600700238
"This is just another one of President Trump's games," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters. "It's thoroughly political. It's part of his campaign strategy. It makes no sense. It's not based on the facts in the least."
"It's insulting to the people of New York City," De Blasio added. "And his effort to withhold our funds is unconstitutional."
\u201cMayor Bill de Blasio on the Dept. of Justice designating NYC as an anarchist jurisdiction: \u201cThis is just another one of Pres. Trump\u2019s games \u2026 and his effort to withhold our funding is unconstitutional."\u201d— The Recount (@The Recount) 1600702134
Many Democrats and progressives took to Twitter to reject the administration's characterization of the targeted cities and the memo's implications. Some called for Barr's impeachment.
\u201cBill barr is advocating full-on fascism. Congress should impeach him and barr should be stripped of his law licenses forever.\nhttps://t.co/e2SadlncKK\u201d— Bill Pascrell, Jr. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Bill Pascrell, Jr. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1600703976
\u201cI don't know what "anarchist jurisdiction" means. Then again, I went to law school. Not despot school.\u201d— Elie Mystal (@Elie Mystal) 1600699679
\u201cSome New Yorkers are joking about the "anarchist jurisdiction" designation already. But we're living in a country where anti-fascists are terrorists, and this designation can be used to say entire cities are terror zones. Every day we hesitate to fight fascism, it gains power.\u201d— Read Jackson Rising by @CooperationJXN (@Read Jackson Rising by @CooperationJXN) 1600699954
Others noted that the "anarchist jurisdictions" have far lower violent crime rates than many other U.S. cities, including Republican-run cities like Oklahoma City, Jacksonville, Miami, and Fort Worth.
\u201cAnnual murders/100k population:\n* Oklahoma City - 12.5\n* Jacksonville - 12.2\n* Miami - 11.2\n* Lexington - 9.0\n* Ft. Worth - 8.0\n* NYC - 3.4\n\nGuess which is the only one DOJ has designated an "anarchist jurisdiction"?\u201d— Mark D. Levine (@Mark D. Levine) 1600703626
Some New Yorkers greeted the news that they lived in an "anarchist jurisdiction" with characteristically acerbic wit:
\u201c*exhales cigarette smoke*\nNew York City hasn't been an anarchist jurisdiction since CBGB closed, man.\u201d— Josh Gondelman (@Josh Gondelman) 1600703410
\u201cI have to appear in court in an #AnarchistJurisdiction Friday. Any tips on how I should dress?\u201d— Thalia (@Thalia) 1600701377
Trump has had a contentious relationship with the mayors of all three cities. He has accused De Blasio of doing a "horrible" job, and has called Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler a "fool."
Barr, for his part, recently asked federal prosecutors to explore possible criminal charges against Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan for allowing protesters to temporarily establish the police-free Capital Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) earlier this year.
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The Department of Justice on Monday designated New York City, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon as "jurisdictions permitting anarchy, violence, and destruction," prompting many critics to fire back with accusations of Trump administration authoritarianism and calls to impeach Attorney General William Barr.
The DOJ move is in response to a September 2 memorandum from President Donald Trump accusing several state and local governments of contributing to "violence and destruction in their jurisdictions by failing to enforce the law, disempowering and significantly defunding their police departments, and refusing to accept offers of federal law enforcement assistance." In the memo Trump vows to "not allow federal tax dollars to fund cities that allow themselves to deteriorate into lawless zones."
\u201cDepartment of Justice Identifies New York City, Portland and Seattle as Jurisdictions Permitting Violence and Destruction of Property \nhttps://t.co/CvqKwNIQTw\u201d— Justice Department (@Justice Department) 1600689355
"Within 30 days...the director of the OMB [Office of Management and Budget] shall issue guidance...on restricting eligibility of...anarchist jurisdictions in the receipt of federal grants," the memo states.
The criteria for evaluating whether a city is an "anarchist jurisdiction" were as follows:
- Whether a jurisdiction forbids the police force from intervening to restore order amid widespread or sustained violence or destruction.
- Whether a jurisdiction has withdrawn law enforcement protection from a geographical area or structure that law enforcement officers are lawfully entitled to access but have been officially prevented from accessing or permitted to access only in exceptional circumstances, except when law enforcement officers are briefly withheld as a tactical decision intended to resolve safely and expeditiously a specific and ongoing unlawful incident posing an imminent threat to the safety of individuals or law enforcement officers.
- Whether a jurisdiction disempowers or defunds police departments.
- Whether a jurisdiction unreasonably refuses to accept offers of law enforcement assistance from the Federal Government.
- Any other related factors the attorney general deems appropriate.
"When state and local leaders impede their own law enforcement officers and agencies from doing their jobs, it endangers innocent citizens who deserve to be protected, including those who are trying to peacefully assemble and protest," said Barr. "We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance."
A congresswoman representing most of Seattle and the mayor of the largest of the three "anarchist jurisdictions" were among those who quickly fired back at the administration.
"This is not just unlawful but it's also a prime example of this president's failed leadership and desperation," Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said of the DOJ's designations. "Amidst Covid-19's devastation, people need more relief--not less. Yet Trump would prefer to turn your attention away from real crises by fearmongering and fanning racism."
\u201cThis is not just unlawful but it's also a prime example of this president\u2019s failed leadership and desperation. Amidst COVID19's devastation, people need more relief\u2014not less. Yet Trump would prefer to turn your attention away from real crises by fearmongering and fanning racism.\u201d— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@Rep. Pramila Jayapal) 1600700238
"This is just another one of President Trump's games," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters. "It's thoroughly political. It's part of his campaign strategy. It makes no sense. It's not based on the facts in the least."
"It's insulting to the people of New York City," De Blasio added. "And his effort to withhold our funds is unconstitutional."
\u201cMayor Bill de Blasio on the Dept. of Justice designating NYC as an anarchist jurisdiction: \u201cThis is just another one of Pres. Trump\u2019s games \u2026 and his effort to withhold our funding is unconstitutional."\u201d— The Recount (@The Recount) 1600702134
Many Democrats and progressives took to Twitter to reject the administration's characterization of the targeted cities and the memo's implications. Some called for Barr's impeachment.
\u201cBill barr is advocating full-on fascism. Congress should impeach him and barr should be stripped of his law licenses forever.\nhttps://t.co/e2SadlncKK\u201d— Bill Pascrell, Jr. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Bill Pascrell, Jr. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1600703976
\u201cI don't know what "anarchist jurisdiction" means. Then again, I went to law school. Not despot school.\u201d— Elie Mystal (@Elie Mystal) 1600699679
\u201cSome New Yorkers are joking about the "anarchist jurisdiction" designation already. But we're living in a country where anti-fascists are terrorists, and this designation can be used to say entire cities are terror zones. Every day we hesitate to fight fascism, it gains power.\u201d— Read Jackson Rising by @CooperationJXN (@Read Jackson Rising by @CooperationJXN) 1600699954
Others noted that the "anarchist jurisdictions" have far lower violent crime rates than many other U.S. cities, including Republican-run cities like Oklahoma City, Jacksonville, Miami, and Fort Worth.
\u201cAnnual murders/100k population:\n* Oklahoma City - 12.5\n* Jacksonville - 12.2\n* Miami - 11.2\n* Lexington - 9.0\n* Ft. Worth - 8.0\n* NYC - 3.4\n\nGuess which is the only one DOJ has designated an "anarchist jurisdiction"?\u201d— Mark D. Levine (@Mark D. Levine) 1600703626
Some New Yorkers greeted the news that they lived in an "anarchist jurisdiction" with characteristically acerbic wit:
\u201c*exhales cigarette smoke*\nNew York City hasn't been an anarchist jurisdiction since CBGB closed, man.\u201d— Josh Gondelman (@Josh Gondelman) 1600703410
\u201cI have to appear in court in an #AnarchistJurisdiction Friday. Any tips on how I should dress?\u201d— Thalia (@Thalia) 1600701377
Trump has had a contentious relationship with the mayors of all three cities. He has accused De Blasio of doing a "horrible" job, and has called Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler a "fool."
Barr, for his part, recently asked federal prosecutors to explore possible criminal charges against Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan for allowing protesters to temporarily establish the police-free Capital Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) earlier this year.
The Department of Justice on Monday designated New York City, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon as "jurisdictions permitting anarchy, violence, and destruction," prompting many critics to fire back with accusations of Trump administration authoritarianism and calls to impeach Attorney General William Barr.
The DOJ move is in response to a September 2 memorandum from President Donald Trump accusing several state and local governments of contributing to "violence and destruction in their jurisdictions by failing to enforce the law, disempowering and significantly defunding their police departments, and refusing to accept offers of federal law enforcement assistance." In the memo Trump vows to "not allow federal tax dollars to fund cities that allow themselves to deteriorate into lawless zones."
\u201cDepartment of Justice Identifies New York City, Portland and Seattle as Jurisdictions Permitting Violence and Destruction of Property \nhttps://t.co/CvqKwNIQTw\u201d— Justice Department (@Justice Department) 1600689355
"Within 30 days...the director of the OMB [Office of Management and Budget] shall issue guidance...on restricting eligibility of...anarchist jurisdictions in the receipt of federal grants," the memo states.
The criteria for evaluating whether a city is an "anarchist jurisdiction" were as follows:
- Whether a jurisdiction forbids the police force from intervening to restore order amid widespread or sustained violence or destruction.
- Whether a jurisdiction has withdrawn law enforcement protection from a geographical area or structure that law enforcement officers are lawfully entitled to access but have been officially prevented from accessing or permitted to access only in exceptional circumstances, except when law enforcement officers are briefly withheld as a tactical decision intended to resolve safely and expeditiously a specific and ongoing unlawful incident posing an imminent threat to the safety of individuals or law enforcement officers.
- Whether a jurisdiction disempowers or defunds police departments.
- Whether a jurisdiction unreasonably refuses to accept offers of law enforcement assistance from the Federal Government.
- Any other related factors the attorney general deems appropriate.
"When state and local leaders impede their own law enforcement officers and agencies from doing their jobs, it endangers innocent citizens who deserve to be protected, including those who are trying to peacefully assemble and protest," said Barr. "We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance."
A congresswoman representing most of Seattle and the mayor of the largest of the three "anarchist jurisdictions" were among those who quickly fired back at the administration.
"This is not just unlawful but it's also a prime example of this president's failed leadership and desperation," Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said of the DOJ's designations. "Amidst Covid-19's devastation, people need more relief--not less. Yet Trump would prefer to turn your attention away from real crises by fearmongering and fanning racism."
\u201cThis is not just unlawful but it's also a prime example of this president\u2019s failed leadership and desperation. Amidst COVID19's devastation, people need more relief\u2014not less. Yet Trump would prefer to turn your attention away from real crises by fearmongering and fanning racism.\u201d— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@Rep. Pramila Jayapal) 1600700238
"This is just another one of President Trump's games," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters. "It's thoroughly political. It's part of his campaign strategy. It makes no sense. It's not based on the facts in the least."
"It's insulting to the people of New York City," De Blasio added. "And his effort to withhold our funds is unconstitutional."
\u201cMayor Bill de Blasio on the Dept. of Justice designating NYC as an anarchist jurisdiction: \u201cThis is just another one of Pres. Trump\u2019s games \u2026 and his effort to withhold our funding is unconstitutional."\u201d— The Recount (@The Recount) 1600702134
Many Democrats and progressives took to Twitter to reject the administration's characterization of the targeted cities and the memo's implications. Some called for Barr's impeachment.
\u201cBill barr is advocating full-on fascism. Congress should impeach him and barr should be stripped of his law licenses forever.\nhttps://t.co/e2SadlncKK\u201d— Bill Pascrell, Jr. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Bill Pascrell, Jr. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1600703976
\u201cI don't know what "anarchist jurisdiction" means. Then again, I went to law school. Not despot school.\u201d— Elie Mystal (@Elie Mystal) 1600699679
\u201cSome New Yorkers are joking about the "anarchist jurisdiction" designation already. But we're living in a country where anti-fascists are terrorists, and this designation can be used to say entire cities are terror zones. Every day we hesitate to fight fascism, it gains power.\u201d— Read Jackson Rising by @CooperationJXN (@Read Jackson Rising by @CooperationJXN) 1600699954
Others noted that the "anarchist jurisdictions" have far lower violent crime rates than many other U.S. cities, including Republican-run cities like Oklahoma City, Jacksonville, Miami, and Fort Worth.
\u201cAnnual murders/100k population:\n* Oklahoma City - 12.5\n* Jacksonville - 12.2\n* Miami - 11.2\n* Lexington - 9.0\n* Ft. Worth - 8.0\n* NYC - 3.4\n\nGuess which is the only one DOJ has designated an "anarchist jurisdiction"?\u201d— Mark D. Levine (@Mark D. Levine) 1600703626
Some New Yorkers greeted the news that they lived in an "anarchist jurisdiction" with characteristically acerbic wit:
\u201c*exhales cigarette smoke*\nNew York City hasn't been an anarchist jurisdiction since CBGB closed, man.\u201d— Josh Gondelman (@Josh Gondelman) 1600703410
\u201cI have to appear in court in an #AnarchistJurisdiction Friday. Any tips on how I should dress?\u201d— Thalia (@Thalia) 1600701377
Trump has had a contentious relationship with the mayors of all three cities. He has accused De Blasio of doing a "horrible" job, and has called Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler a "fool."
Barr, for his part, recently asked federal prosecutors to explore possible criminal charges against Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan for allowing protesters to temporarily establish the police-free Capital Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) earlier this year.
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