Albert Pike monument: Trump personally calls to reinstate Confederate general's statue after Juneteenth toppling
President Donald Trump has personally ordered to reinstate the statue of a Confederate general after violent protesters toppled the monument and burned it last week. Trump is now preparing to announce a mandate against the removal of such memorials.
The Albert Pike monument in Washington DC was vandalized and later taken down by protesters on June 19 or 'Juneteenth' — a holiday observed to celebrate the emancipation of African-American slaves.
In response to the destruction, President Trump allegedly called Interior Secretary David Bernhardt personally and ordered the Park Service to re-install the statue, two sources told NBC News. Pike is best known as a senior officer of the Confederate States Army who commanded the District of Indian Territory in the Civil War.
While the White House did not provide an official comment about the statue returning back to its original situation, an Interior Department spokesperson revealed to the outlet that the "secretary has made his position quite clear when it comes to lawlessness, violence against police, and destruction of public property."
"Very sad to see states allowing roving gangs of wise guys, anarchists & looters, many of them having no idea what they are doing, indiscriminately ripping down our statues and monuments to the past," Trump tweeted on June 24. "Some are great works of art, but all represent our History & Heritage, both the good and the bad."
"It is important for us to understand and remember, even in turbulent and difficult times, and learn from them. Knowledge comes from the most unusual of places!" he added.
According to the report, the statue stood in the Judiciary Square neighborhood, very close to the DC police headquarters.
This comes after the president blasted state and city leaders for not being tougher on those wreaking havoc and destroying public property amid the protests.
As he revealed earlier this week, Trump has also been working on an executive order that would strengthen laws protecting historical monuments. The president announced that the legislation would include up to 10 years in prison for anyone who destroys or vandalizes any statue, monuments, or other federal property.
"I have authorized the Federal Government to arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys any monument, statue, or other such Federal property in the U.S. with up to 10 years in prison, per the Veteran’s Memorial Preservation Act, or such other laws that may be pertinent," the president had tweeted. "This action is taken effective immediately, but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused. There will be no exceptions!"
"We are going to come out with a strong executive order," he reiterated at a press briefing on June 24. "I should have that by the end of the week, which is fast approaching. We are going to have a very powerful statement."
The death of George Floyd has sparked global demonstrations against police brutality and racial injustice, with several notable statues at public places being taken down as a form of protest against America's controversial past.
However, Trump asserted that his administration was "looking at long-term jail sentences for these vandals and these hoodlums and these anarchists and agitators and call it whatever you want."
"Some people don't like that language, but that's what they are. They're bad people. They don't love our country. And they're not taking down our monuments, I just want to make that clear," he said.