Republican attorneys general from Florida, Georgia and Arkansas called on all attorneys general, regardless of their political party affiliation, to denounce the rioting, looting and violence that has occurred coast to coast.
“One of the things that has been so disheartening for those of us that are in leadership within the executive branch is to see some of these cities that are being destroyed and their mayors unwilling to stand up and call for help outside their own jurisdiction when necessary,” said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody during a Sept. 2 telephone press conference with journalists.
Moody was flanked by Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) executive director Adam Piper, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr.
“This call and the message that we continue to send is ‘Do not incite violence’ rather incite participation in our democracy,” Arkansas Attorney General Rutledge said. “If people want to have a say-so, they need to go vote but tearing down and destroying people's personal property, government property and harming individuals is not the answer rather that is what anarchists and people who hate America and our culture are encouraging.”
The press conference was organized by RAGA to memorialize 100 days since the outbreak of violence in Portland, Oregon and other cities, which erupted initially in response to George Floyd’s killing on May 25.
"While the destruction has been awful to watch, what has been worse is the reality that national Democrats, including every single national Democrat attorney general, has been aiding, abetting and silent about this destruction," Piper said. "The reality is the Democrat attorney general co-chairs nationally are fanning the flames of destruction. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, who has seen 100 days of violence in Portland, described the situation there as 'perfectly peaceful' and even tried to stop federal agents from protecting her citizens."
Just last week in Kenosha, Wisconsin, 17-year-old Illinois resident Kyle Rittenhouse allegedly killed Anthony M. Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum with a rifle during a rally protesting the Aug. 23 police shooting of Jacob Blake, according to media reports. A black man, Blake was shot seven times by a white officer leaving the 29-year-old paralyzed from the waist down.
“We do need to sit down and be more open and listen to ways that we can be constructive and make the world safer for all members of our community, whether you're in law enforcement or community members,” said Georgia AG Carr. “The images of violence and the lack of concern for safety and security is having a big impact.”
When asked about the fact that President Trump sat down with Rittenhouse’s family members after the Kenosha shooting and not with family members of Blake, Carr said they are two different issues.
“Just last Wednesday, I sat down with members of the black community, members of the white community and we talked about ways that we can move forward,” he said. “We've been working with the community to talk about ways that justice can be done for Ahmaud Arbery, for his family, for the community and the state. We also have a great initiative called the Trust Initiative where we engage in a structured dialogue about racial conciliation and constructive ways to reform.”
Arbery was an unarmed 25-year-old black jogger who was reportedly shot dead while being pursued by white residents of Glynn County to which the Glynn County Police Department (GCPD) was allegedly told to make no arrests by the Brunswick District Attorney's Office, as previously reported.
WMAZ 13 reported that the Trust Initiative is a partnership between Georgia’s chiefs of police and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, a pilot program that aims to improve relations between the community and law enforcement.
“Where is Joe Biden and former attorney general Kamala Harris on denouncing the destruction of government property and destruction of lives,” Rutledge said. “Why are they sitting quietly by and why aren’t these questions being forced on them rather than blaming Donald Trump for their actions? The actions of the dangerous liberal left can not be blamed on Donald Trump.”
RAGA released a series of digital and television ads called Lawless Liberals.
“We have incited violence and created danger for our children, our families and our communities,” Rutledge said. “Why don't we all sit down together and encourage people not to burn down a building, don't launch a rock or a brick through a window but rather go vote and participate in the Democratic process that brave men and women have died to ensure that we have.”