Democracy Dies in Darkness

A dangerous new factor in an uneasy moment: Unidentified law enforcement officers

Analysis by
National columnist
June 4, 2020 at 1:50 p.m. EDT
Employees of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and other law enforcement personnel block 16th Street NW near the White House as protests over the death of George Floyd continue June 3 in Washington. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

This article has been updated.

After more than a week of unrest, tension in a number of major U.S. cities has eased. The vandalism and looting that had often used large, peaceful protests as cover have faded; the eruption of violence at protests appears to be less common. The Associated Press reports that active-duty members of the military who were moved into Washington to help keep order would be moved back out, though that decision was later reversed.