State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) recently offered his thoughts on the so-called “No Kings” protests, which have already kicked off in the state’s metro, calling the recent uptick in violent and less-violent demonstrations against President Donald Trump’s actions “staged.”
In recent weeks, protests against the Trump administration's actions have escalated dramatically. In California, Trump this week mobilized the National Guard to quell anti-immigration enforcement protests and riots in Los Angeles. A federal judge ruled on Thursday that Trump’s unilateral use of the National Guard was illegal; a ruling blocked by an appeals court hours later. The matter will receive a full hearing from the appeals court on Tuesday.
Also on Thursday, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was forcibly removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s news conference in Los Angeles, where he was taken to the ground and handcuffed.
The escalation of the confrontation in Los Angeles coincides, supposedly coincidentally, with scattered national protests across the nation, all bearing the title “No Kings.” The No Kings website describes the protests as a “nationwide day of defiance. From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism—and show the world what democracy really looks like.”
On Friday, Orr appeared on WVNN's "The Dale Jackson Show" to express his thoughts on the scheduled protests, claiming the protests’ organization is all performative, staged events, much like the handcuffing of Padilla on Thursday.
“This is all staged, Dale,” Orr said. “And whether it’s the Padilla, the senator from California, or the street mobs in LA or wherever else, it’s all staged, in my opinion. And what’s ironic is that the Democrats are losing votes or losing popularity or favorability among the electorate due to their response to all of this. It’s a loser for them to be fighting like this for illegals in our country.”
“Certainly, the hardcore, it’s very near and dear to their hearts. But, to the general public, they don’t like all this Anarchy. And particularly after all the BLM riots of 2020, it’s kind of like, ‘We’ve done this, and we’re not interested in doing it again. Take them down, get them out [and] put their butts in jail.’ There’s not a lot of tolerance for it," he added.
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