Donald Trump has threatened protesters who threw paint on a George Washington statue in New York with “10 years in prison”
It comes after two people were seen in surveillance camera released Monday hurling red paint on George Washington ‘s two monuments in Washington Square Park.
George Washington served from 1789 until 1797 as the first president of the United States.
President Trump, responding on Twitter this afternoon, threatened the suspects with 10-year prison terms, and told the two unidentified people to turn in.
He wrote: “We are tracking down the two Anarchists who threw paint on the magnificent George Washington Statue in Manhattan. We have them on tape.”
“They will be prosecuted and face 10 years in prison based on the Monuments and Statues Act,” the president said, adding: “Turn yourselves in now!”
We are tracking down the two Anarchists who threw paint on the magnificent George Washington Statue in Manhattan. We have them on tape. They will be prosecuted and face 10 years in Prison based on the Monuments and Statues Act. Turn yourselves in now!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 30, 2020
Following ongoing anti-racist protests, several monuments were defaced and burned, triggered by the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed black man who died in police custody back in may.
Trump ordered federal law enforcement earlier this month to “arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys any monument, statue or other such federal property.”
He also confirmed last week that many people are in police custody and declared 15 other suspects wanted for the vandalization of Federal Property in Lafayette Park.
