Wall of Vets cry grows loud, Internet slams Trump for villainizing protesters by declaring Operation Legend
The ongoing clash between police and the protesters seem to escalate with each passing day. On Wednesday Trump announced Operation Legend, named after four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was killed when shots were fired into his Kansas City home as he slept. The operation involves agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Trump said Operation LeGend surges resources into cities across the United States that are “experiencing a disturbing and unacceptable level of violent crime, including shootings and murder,” reported KMBC News. Meanwhile, Trump’s top Homeland Security official Chad Wolf criticized accusations hurled against federal officers cracking down on protests in Portland, saying they are not the “Gestapo”. Wolf said “these officers are not military,” referring to feds in tactical gear who have been seen arresting protesters en masse in the city. “These police officers are not stormtroopers, they are not the Gestapo as some have described them.” The Gestapo were Nazi Germany’s secret police and were notorious for arbitrarily arresting political dissidents.
However, after Twitter user shared an emotional Twitter thread about two USNA alumni standing up to federal agents to stop the brutality. The user who goes by the handle @Tazerface16 wrote: “It turns out that there wasn't just one USNA grad there that night, but two. This video was shot by Duston Obermeyer, who graduated from the Naval Academy in 2001. Please watch his video. It is very powerful. He went down to talk to the Feds for the same reason I did. He deserves just as much credit for being there as I got. Please watch.” He followed it up with, “He and I were yelling the same question: Do you remember your oath of office? We were standing right next to each other, and you can here me yelling the same question in his video. This can't be a coincidence.”
A user suggested that it was time a ‘Wall of Vets’ was formed to stand up against this situation. The user @LeeKniess tweeted: “It is time for Walls of Vets. I live in the Blue State of NM. Albuquerque is on the turds list. We need to come together!”. This was encouraged by Twitterati with lots of positive feedback. One user replied: “This is a GREAT IDEA!!!! A #WallOfVets yes!!! Get t-shirts printed with the your military picture on it to put it right up in their faces WHO they are attacking!!” Another encouraged by saying, “Love this! As a young person of color, it’s been demoralizing seeing Trump villainize protesters when all we want is equality. Seeing the groups of Moms, Dads, and people like you creating a movement is really amazing.” Another wrote: “If you guys organize and get a gofundme page for anything from shirts to signs to travel funds, I will donate and spread the word for sure!!!”
We had reported earlier about the videos showcasing women marching with their arms linked have taken the Internet by storm, trending #PortlandStrong. The act of resistance is being dubbed, “Wall of Moms” and the women in the video are seen chanting slogans like "Moms are here, Feds stay clear" and "Leave our kids alone." And, in another video, the women are heard singing “hands up please don’t shoot me” while raising placards carrying messages about racial injustice and call for police reform.
As reported by NPR, Wolf at a news conference on Tuesday said, "We will not retreat.” Federal officers have arrested 43 people in Portland since July 4, according to DHS. The protests in Portland and dozens of other cities were sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.
Department of Homeland Security agents continue to wield batons and tear gas against Portland protesters as frustration is rising between demonstrators calling for nonviolent action and activists determined to push out federal officers by any means necessary, reported NBC News. Portland resident Dan Thomas shouted into his loudspeaker, “Donald Trump wants to label Black Lives Matter a terrorist organization.”
Angry citizens took to Twitter to vent their frustration. One user wrote: “Trump’s America where federal goons snatch American citizens off the streets stuffing them into unmarked cars, use tear gas, beat our veterans & incite violence because someone knocked over a statue & graffiti”.