ACLU Comment on Tear Gas Use Outside the White House

WASHINGTON — Below is comment from Jamil Dakwar, director of the ACLU’s Human Rights Project, in response to reports that tear gas was used on protesters outside the White House just before President Trump’s address to the nation:

“This appears to be grossly unjustified use of a dangerous chemical weapon on protesters and raises serious human rights concerns under international law. Health experts warned that the use of tear gas can have long-term effects on respiratory function. Elected officials, including Congress, must investigate this politically-motivated and life-threatening use of indiscriminate weapons.”