UN rights chief urges US to not use military force in anti-Trump protests

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk holds a press conference in Guatemala City
FILE PHOTO: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk holds a press conference in Guatemala City, Guatemala, July 19, 2024. REUTERS/Cristina Chiquin/File Photo
Source: REUTERS

The U.N. human rights chief on Monday urged U.S. authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and refrain from using military force in the context of large protests against President Donald Trump's actions while in office.

"I urge the authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and to uphold human rights in law enforcement, including by refraining from any resort to military force when civilian authorities are capable of maintaining public order," Volker Turk told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva in a broad opening speech.

His comments come after Trump sent U.S. marines to Los Angeles to square off against protesters as part of a rare use of military force to support domestic police.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.