Attorney General Bill Barr took a stroll with Defense Secretary Mark Esper around downtown Washington, D.C. on Monday night after federal police officers sprayed teargas at peaceful protesters who were not violating the city’s 7 p.m. curfew.
A video tweeted by Telemundo reporter Alberto Pimienta shows Barr and Esper chatting with the police on 16th and K Street:
Attorney General Barr and Defense Sec Esper just showed up at 16th/K and spoke to law enforcement. We shouted questions but they walked away // El fiscal general Barr y el Sec. de Def. Esper llegaron hasta la 16/K para conversar con fuerzas de seg @Telemundo44 @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/1tt8gU63AS
— Alberto Pimienta (@apimientaDC) June 2, 2020
The attempt at displaying “strength” came several hours after President Donald Trump had protesters and people at St. John’s Episcopal Church forcibly removed so he could stage a photo-op in front of the church.
Several people on Twitter called out Barr for the performance:
This is so wrong. The AG is not supposed to be a war leader. https://t.co/hv42gWuvQ0
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) June 2, 2020
Are you this clueless?
There was a curfew.
I'm glad Bill Barr was able to have a nice stroll but the citizens of DC were confined to their homes after 7PM. https://t.co/ZA1TFhwNjt
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) June 2, 2020
Here is Bill Barr proving the age old adage of "do as I say, not as I do" by taking a gentle stroll yesterday evening after the 7pm curfew was initiated and backed up with tear gas.
All he's missing is a mint julep in his hand. pic.twitter.com/9QhnxlAO24
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) June 2, 2020
I’d be more impressed if Barr met with protesters rather than touring the aftermath of a tear gas cleared, vandalized street. https://t.co/3nNVE94vQ9
— Sam Stein (@samstein) June 2, 2020
Barr Prowls Around DC In Publicity Stunt After Cops Teargas Peaceful Protesters.
I think you meant “slithered” or “oozed”, not “prowls”…
If the best you can muster for a “show of force” is your tubby lawyer and Capt Procurement, you’re probably better off hiding in the bunker.
And it appears in those pictures that everyone of the people he walked with was a whiter shade of pale.
Pale privilege.
It would be extremely poetic if their newfound penchant for disaster porn turned into the vector that finally ended up putting these fat old assholes on COVID-19 ventilators. Those cops and National Guard have been standing shoulder to shoulder for much of the last week. You think none of them have the virus? Go ahead, Mr. Attorney General. Play with as much fire as you like.