On Monday, the Justice Department labeled New York City, Portland, Ore., and Seattle as “anarchist jurisdictions” to be evaluated for possible cuts in federal funding for failing to rein in “violent” anti-racism protests.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr said in a statement that an executive order from President Donald Trump this month threatens to withhold federal funding from cities where local officials have cut police department funding or have refused to accept federal forces.
Barr cited rising gun violence in New York, cuts to the city’s police budget and other criteria for justifying its designation as an “anarchist jurisdiction.” Barr said that Portland endured “100 consecutive nights of protests marred by vandalism, chaos, and even killing,” and Seattle’s was cited for “[permitting] anarchists and activists to seize six square blocks of the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.”
The ‘anarchist’ designations mean all federal agency heads must submit reports to the Office of Management and Budget detailing all funding in those cities for review and possible cuts.
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