As protests loom on the horizon for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States Attorney's Office is putting out a reminder, and it's as clear as day: peaceful protest, yes; violence, no. In a public statement, U.S. Attorney David Metcalf delivered the office's stance, which boils down to a commitment to First Amendment rights until they're twisted into violent acts against people or federal property. In a nutshell, cross that line and you'll have the feds to answer to. The statement issued on Friday made it clear that federal charges are on the table for anyone who gets tangled up in rioting, assaults, or property destruction during these events.
The United States Attorney's Office is not playing around when they say they're all about protecting the rule of law and the right to air grievances without spilling over into chaos, with Metcalf saying, "The guarantees of the First Amendment end at the point of violence against persons or property," and I mean, that's pretty straight talk for anyone wondering just how much they can get away with before finding themselves in cuffs.
It's not just talk either; the feds have been huddling up with law enforcement at all levels to prep for what's coming, ensuring they're ready to back local partners up and keep the peace, everyone's looking for this to go down without a hitch, but also ready to drop the hammer if things slip out of control. They're notably focusing on federal offenses like gunning for federal officers, taking a bat to federal facilities, or causing mayhem in general, these are the actions that will slap protesters with federal charges, as the statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office makes plain.
