Democratic Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas appeared on Fox News Sunday and blamed the federal government, the president's rhetoric and the Republican Party for fomenting and exacerbating violent upheaval in several major American cities. Anchor Chris Wallace opened the discussion by noting that Lucas "began this year with a commitment" to hold his city's homicide rate to less than 100 slayings -- but as of late June, murders had already topped that number and were on track for a new record. Lucas acknowledged that a "limited scope" collaboration with the feds on reducing crime and solving some of the dozens of unsolved killings in his city is a welcome development, but criticized the federal government's intervention in cities like Portland and Seattle.
As is becoming standard among elected Democrats, Lucas placed the onus of blame on federal law enforcement and the Trump administration, and seemingly couldn't be bothered to utter one syllable in denunciation of the agitators responsible for the chaos and violence. If you're pressed for time, scroll ahead to Wallace's final question:
Asked directly about federal agents protecting federal property against violent and destructive mobs, Lucas called their actions as "unconstitutional and unwise." Several prominent legal scholars clearly disagree on that first point, but what to make of the mayor's second assertion? He says other mayors have told him that they have the situation "under control," which is manifestly not the case in the two cities under discussion, Portland and Seattle. Agitators have been causing trouble, often with violence, for two consecutive months in the former jurisdiction, where multiple federal agents were injured, among others:
Craig Gabriel, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, tells reporters in a DOJ press call that six federal officers were injured during the riots in Portland last night. Injuries included a concussion and one officer was hospitalized for burns from a "mortar blast."
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) July 25, 2020
A convicted pedophile, Blake David Hampe, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday at the Portland antifa riot. He’s accused of stabbing @SpaceForceUSA_, a black Trump supporter. https://t.co/nLSzpye4d1
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 25, 2020
Would the media consider that a "mostly peaceful" explosive device? Oregon Democrats are criticizing the feds, of course. Meanwhile, Seattle has lurched from the lethal 'autonomous zone' debacle to fresh acts of violence (and this was during the daylight hours):
It’s not a peaceful protest in Seattle. The crowd are the aggressors. They set fire to a Starbucks right before this. pic.twitter.com/JVIiCxCPut
— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) July 25, 2020
These workers at a bar/restaurant say some in the crowd attacked and punched them after accusing one of them of taking images of the crowd. pic.twitter.com/ETQ4m9VYyr
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) July 25, 2020
Definitely "under control:"
The Seattle police chief informs business owners that they are on their own against rioters. The city council has tied her hands. The police do not have the tools to combat mob violence. pic.twitter.com/iLV0ne9Z2i
— Mike (@Doranimated) July 25, 2020
Let's check in on Oakland, California:
“Courthouse set on fire by agitators during Oakland protest” https://t.co/kcWLpCoG6w
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) July 26, 2020
Some vandalized the police station, broke windows, spray painted, shot fireworks and pointed lasers at officers and helicopters, according to officials. Police say demonstrators in the area of 17th and Lakeside are breaking windows and “chanting racial slurs” at residents. The Alameda County Superior County Courthouse was set on fire by agitators, police say. “We ask for organizers to keep the protest peaceful,” the police department wrote on social media. No reported arrests have been made at this time.
Is this also the fault of federal officers surging into Oakland -- which hasn't happened? Perhaps the city's left-wing mayor, who has everything "under control" according to Lucas, is too busy investigating fake hate crimes to handle other, actual problems. In his Sunday interview Mayor Lucas chalked up these criminal acts to an "exciting political issue" hyped by the GOP, chiding the Oregon and Washington Republican Party for noticing and pointing out the rampant lawlessness in areas "governed" by Democrats. Before you go, read this wild thread about the priorities of the radical progressives running Seattle. I'll leave you with a taste of the madness:
The plan to close the jails is explicitly predicated on the idea that the "government [is] responsible for the problem" of crime and that criminal offenders are the true "rights holders" who must be "honor[ed] and celebrate[d]." pic.twitter.com/05h3PNzVMk
— Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) July 25, 2020
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