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U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday suggested he would use federal troops to end unrest that has erupted following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed in police custody last week. The demonstrations have been largely peaceful, but police in some cities have used force against journalists and protesters, and protesters have clashed with police. Many U.S. cities have set curfews. To deploy the armed forces, Trump would need to formally invoke a group of statutes known as the Insurrection Act.

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Protesters gather at Foley Square in New York.Yuki Iwamura/The Associated Press

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Ericka Ward-Audena, of Washington, puts her hand on her daughter Elle Ward-Audena, 7, as they take a knee in front of a police line in Washington. "I wanted my daughter to see the protests, it's really important. I've gotten a million questions from her because of it," says Ward-Audena, "I think the most egregious statement was 'when they start looting, we start shooting.' That crossed a line for me."Jacquelyn Martin/The Associated Press

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A protester returns a tear gas cannister during a march against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.BASTIAAN SLABBERS/Reuters

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Protesters react to tear gas during a march against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.BASTIAAN SLABBERS/Reuters

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A person holds a "Black Lives Matter" sign as a heavy cloud of tear gas and smoke rises after being deployed by Seattle police as protesters rally against police brutality and the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Seattle, Washington.LINDSEY WASSON/Reuters

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A man reads a Bible as protestors run from tear gas during a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of African-American man George Floyd, in St Louis, Missouri.LAWRENCE BRYANT/Reuters

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A brick thrown by a demonstrator hits a sheriff van during a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of African-American man George Floyd, in St Louis, Missouri.LAWRENCE BRYANT/Reuters

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Protesters gather amid nationwide unrest following the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.LUCAS JACKSON/Reuters

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Riot police rush demonstrators as they clear Lafayette Park and the area around it across from the White House for President Donald Trump to be able to walk through for a photo opportunity in front of St. John's Episcopal Church, during a rally against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, near the White House, in Washington.STRINGER/Reuters

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Officers kneel with protesters during a protest against the death in Minneapolis in police custody of African-American man George Floyd, in Downtown Atlanta, Georgia.DUSTIN CHAMBERS/Reuters

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Riot police chase a man as they rush protestors to clear Lafayette Park and the area around it across from the White House for President Donald Trump to be able to walk through for a photo opportunity in front of St. John's Episcopal Church, during a rally against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, near the White House, in Washington.STRINGER/Reuters

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Protests near the White House in Washington.ERIN SCHAFF/The New York Times News Service

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President Donald Trump walks past police in Lafayette Park after he visited outside St. John's Church across from the White House in Washington. Part of the church was set on fire during protests on Sunday night.Patrick Semansky/The Associated Press

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President Donald Trump holds a Bible as he visits outside St. John's Church across Lafayette Park from the White House in Washington. Part of the church was set on fire during protests on Sunday night.Patrick Semansky/The Associated Press

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Activists fill Spring Street as they march toward downtown Atlanta protesting the recent death of George Floyd.John Amis/The Associated Press

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Terrence Floyd, center, the brother of George Floyd, is comforted while visiting the site of his brothers death in Minneapolis.VICTOR J. BLUE/The New York Times News Service

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Pedestrians pass the burned ruins of the Minnehaha Liquor store near the Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct in Minneapolis.John Minchillo/The Associated Press

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Protesters fist-bump with a police officer near Foley Square as part of a demonstration to protest the death of George Floyd in New York.The Canadian Press

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Pedestrians walk by the Macy's flagship store after workers cleaned and boarded up damage sustained during a night of violent protests and looting in Midtown, Manhattan.Scott Heins/Getty Images

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Protesters demonstrate during a "Black Lives Matter" protest at Washington Square in New York City.JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images

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Protesting at Foley Square in New York. The death of George Floyd, an African-American man, in police custody, has ignited protests across the country.BENJAMIN NORMAN/The New York Times News Service

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Workers and a volunteer clean up damage outside a burned-out clothing store in Birmingham, Ala., following a night of unrest.Jay Reeves/The Associated Press

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A man stands in front of a police car during the protest against the deaths of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police and George Floyd by Minneapolis police, in Louisville, Kentucky.BRYAN WOOLSTON/Reuters

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Ariel view of protestors gathered near the makeshift memorial in honour of George Floyd marking one week anniversary of his death, on June 1, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP/Getty Images

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