The federal government deployed SWAT teams from 16 different federal divisions to deal with the unrest surrounding racial justice protests in May and June, Congress’ chief watchdog said in a report Thursday that reveals the extent of Trump administration action. Teams deployed from Buffalo to Miami, and from San Diego to D.C., in some cases as the main protection for federal buildings and in other cases as backup to other national or local law enforcement agencies, according to the Government Accountability Office.The District of Columbia was the most intense, with 11 different tactical teams playing some role there during protests. They ranged from the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team to the Pentagon’s 14-member Force Protection Emergency Response Team, which deployed to clear protesters from near a military courthouse in downtown. Buffalo and San Diego each saw four different SWAT teams deployed. Federal officials say they sent in reinforcements after violent riots broke out around the federal courthouse and local police were told to stand down. The U.S. Marshals Service declined to say where it deployed tactical teams, calling it a sensitive matter. The agency wouldn’t even disclose the number of people on its tactical teams. Other agencies, though, were forthcoming. GAO released the information as part of a broader audit of 25 tactical teams run by federal agencies...MORE
See this DuBois column and notice the difference between action on behalf of urban residents and lack of action for rural residents.
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