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Philadelphia Woman Charged for Arson of Police Cars During Protests
Authorities have accused a 33-year-old woman of torching a pair of police cars during protests. The Justice Department has announced federal arson charges against her this week.
A video shows Lore-Elisabeth Blumenthal committing the act of arson. It showed her “taking a burning piece of wood from a police sedan and shoving it into a police SUV” which she found parked near the City hall, according to U.S. Attorney William McSwain, as reported by Fox News.
“The defendant is currently in federal custody and had her initial appearance in federal court yesterday. The government will be filing a motion for the defendant to be detained pending trial,” says a Wednesday press release from the Department of Justice.
Crime During Protests
Philadelphia woman charged with torching police cars in George Floyd unresthttps://t.co/ft29s9tenA
— AvaArmstrong, 🇺🇸Author (@MsAvaArmstrong) June 18, 2020
Blumenthal allegedly set fire to both vehicles during protests over the death of George Floyd.
“We at the U.S. Attorney’s Office fully support the First Amendment right of the people to assemble peaceably and to petition their government. But torching a police car has nothing to do with peaceful protest or any legitimate message. It is a violent and despicable act that will be prosecuted in this District to the fullest extent of the law,” McSwain in a statement.
“Anybody who engaged in such acts can stand by to put your hands behind your back and head to federal prison. We are coming for you,” he then added.
According to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, many people “peacefully and lawfully” exercised their First Amendment right to protest. However, “there were individuals who chose to use the protests as an opportunity to engage in criminal activity.”
“Some of these individuals’ actions were malicious, destructive, and could have resulted in critical injuries to others,” Outlaw also added.
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