WASHINGTON—After large numbers of unidentified law enforcement officers began patrolling the streets of Washington, D.C. this week, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday announced legislation requiring unidentified law enforcement officers and members of the Armed Forces to clearly identify themselves and their agency or service while they are engaged in crowd control or arresting individuals involved in civil disobedience or protests in the United States. 

“President Trump is trying to intimidate peaceful protestors by having unidentified and unaccountable federal law enforcement officers and members of the Armed Forces roam the streets of DC. The United States would normally condemn this tactic if used by dictators of other countries, and its use here directly threatens our democracy,” said Murphy. “Americans have a right to know who is patrolling their streets, and to have recourse if their massive power is misused. That’s why Leader Schumer and I are introducing legislation that requires all federal law enforcement officers and members of the Armed Forces to clearly identify themselves and their service or agencies, last name, and badge number or rank while they are engaged in crowd control at protests or other events. We cannot allow President Trump to abuse power in an effort to silence the peaceful protestors and their efforts to shine a spotlight on systemic racism in this country. They are not the enemy, and the streets of our cities are not a battlefield.”

“Our nation’s capital is being patrolled by federal officers, commanded by President Trump and Attorney General Barr, who are being told to refuse to identify who they are and where they come from,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. “This legislation is critical to preventing this president or future presidents from abusing their role as Commander-in-Chief to trample on the constitutional rights of the American people and quash peaceful protesters fighting for justice.  America was built on transparency and we must be an example for the world.” 

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