“When The Looting Starts, The Shooting Starts”: Trump Tweet Uses Quote From Cop Who Sparked ’60s Race Riot

Trump’s tweet that included the phrase has since been flagged by Twitter for violating “the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence.”

Last Thursday, Donald Trump posted a pair of tweets addressing the protests taking place in Minneapolis following George Floyd‘s death. For the last three nights protesters have taken to the streets, but things escalated to a new level when a police station was set on fire.

READ: Minneapolis Protesters Clash With Police Over George Floyd’s Death

“I can’t stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis,” he tweeted. “A total lack of leadership. Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right…..”

“….These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen,” he continued in a follow-up tweet. “Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!”

The second tweet has since been flagged by Twitter, with the social media platform stating that the tweet “violates our policies regarding the glorification of violence based on the historical context of the last line, its connection to violence, and the risk it could inspire similar actions today.”

As Business Insider noted, the “historical context” Twitter is referring to seems to be in response to Trump’s “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” quote, which was also used by Miami police chief Walter Headley in the ’60s. During a news conference in December 1967, Headley addressed the growing tensions between Black people and police officers as a result of his harsh policing in Black communities. Headley warned that violence would be used if the situation worsened, telling reporters at the time: “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

In August 1968, a three-day riot occurred. The police killed three people and left 18 wounded, as well as made 222 arrests, according to the Washington Post. Headley, who was on vacation when the riot broke out, once again told reporters “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” when asked if he would return to oversee police response.

Former president Barack Obama also responded to the death of George Floyd, saying, “This shouldn’t be ‘normal’ in 2020 America.” He did not speak on the protests or Trump’s comments.

Source: Business Insider