Largest police union calls for Trump to ‘forcefully urge’ protestors to stand down

The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the nation’s largest police union, on Wednesday, called on President Trump to “forcefully urge” protestors to stand down, calling the riots at the U.S. Capitol unlawful activity. 

“The actions of some of these demonstrators are endangering our elected officials, Congressional staff, ordinary citizens, and the law enforcement officers on the scene,” FOP President Patrick Yoes said in a statement.

FOP endorsed Trump in the 2020 election and praised him for his calls for law and order. They also endorsed the president in 2016.

“The images coming in from the United State Capitol Building today are heartbreaking to every American. Lawlessness is not how Americans affect change in our great country,” Yoes said in the statement as Trump supporters swarmed the Capitol complex and forced a lockdown.

He said that the events of the day demonstrate how critical law enforcement officers are to public safety. The union has over 356,000 members. 

“Without the protection afforded to us by our men and women in blue, our society cannot function,” he said.

A chaotic scene unfolded at the Capitol as supporters of President Trump swarmed the Capitol to protest the Electoral College vote, forcing a lockdown and various confrontations with police.

The House and Senate were less than an hour into debating the first GOP objection to a state that President-elect Joe Biden won — Arizona — when they were forced to abruptly recess as mostly maskless rioters crowded into the hallways around each chamber.