Peaceful protestors demonstrated in front of the White House on Monday night against the murder of George Floyd by police. Around 6:35pm, almost a half hour before a citywide curfew was to go into effect, military police began tear gassing them, forcing them out of Lafayette Park.
Minutes later, President Donald Trump emerged from the White House and walked to St. John's Episcopal Church, whose basement had been set on fire the previous night. Trump brandished a bible in front of the church while the press took pictures of him.
The President had his own citizens gassed for a photo opportunity.
Americans across the country were outraged, but few were as outraged as Right Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, under whose diocese St. John's resides.
Budde had no idea that Trump was walking to the church—and using tear gas to clear his path—until she saw it on television.
In no uncertain terms, she condemned Trump's actions to CNN's Anderson Cooper.
Watch below.
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde: "The President just used a Bible ... and one of the churches of my diocese without permission as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and everything our churches stand for....I am outraged." pic.twitter.com/yegcO7xoJ0
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) June 2, 2020
Budde said that Trump's message was "antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and everything that our churches stand for," before condemning his use of tear gas.
She continued:
"I am outraged. The President did not pray when he came to St. John's, nor...did he acknowledge the agony of our country right now and in particular that of the people of color of our nation who wonder if anyone in public power will ever acknowledge their sacred worth and who are rightfully demanding an end to 400 years of systemic racism and white supremacy in this country."
She then said:
"I just want the world to know that we in the Diocese of Washington, following Jesus and his way of love, we distance ourself from the incendiary language of this President. We follow someone who lived a life of nonviolence and sacrificial love. We align ourselves with those seeking justice for the death of George Floyd and countless others through the sacred act of peaceful protest."
Budde reiterated the condemnation on her Twitter account.
People commended her unequivocal rebuke.
Thank you for your clear vision and unequivocal commitment to truth.
— Cathy Lewis (@CathyLewisTalks) June 2, 2020
This agnostic thanks you, Bishop. Former Catholic here, striving to be Christian in behavior if not in metaphysics. I respect the faith you articulated. Reminds me of the faith of Bonhoeffer, Oscar Romero, Dorothy Day, and Bishop Tutu. Refreshing to hear it spoken so forthrightly
— John McAndrew (@phidippides26) June 2, 2020
Thank you for your clear vision and unequivocal commitment to truth.
— Cathy Lewis (@CathyLewisTalks) June 2, 2020
Thank you for speaking out against this abomination
— Jennifer Hodges (@KresyTalk) June 2, 2020
She was far from the only one who found Trump's actions deplorable.
Dear fundamentalist Christian Trump supporters: If Obama had held the Bible backwards and upside down, you would immediately have called him the Antichrist.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) June 2, 2020
Trump using a church, NOT to pray or to read scripture. It was an awkard, PHOTO OP, where he held a Bible up in the air and pointed at it, like it was a Trump steak. People were pepper sprayed to make space for this. He is at best a mockery during this deeply depressing time.
— Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) June 2, 2020
Trump orchestrating an assault on peaceful protesters so he could hold a bible in front of a church for a photo op is a gross abuse of power & arguably a violation of the 1st Amendment's right to peaceably assemble. Trump MUST be prosecuted for his crimes against the people.
— Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) June 2, 2020
If you're “shocked" that Trump tear gassed protesters to stand in front of a church he doesn't attend to hold up a Bible he's never read, to gain support from those he's manipulating....you haven't been paying attention for four years and your privilege is showing.
— RevDaniel (@RevDaniel) June 2, 2020
Despicable.
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