william barr

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Attorney General William Barr said in a speech Tuesday that communities may lose the "police protection they need" if they don't show respect for officers.

Barr was speaking at a Justice Department ceremony honoring police officers, but chastised Americans failing to recognize the "sacrifice and service" of police.

Barr's remarks were widely interpreted by civil-rights activists to be a threat against those who have protested in recent years against fatal police shootings or instances of excessive force and misconduct.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on what Barr meant, or what communities he was referring to.

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Attorney General William Barr gave an ominous warning in a speech on Tuesday, threatening that "communities" that don't respect police officers may soon lose the "protection they need."

Barr was speaking at a Justice Department ceremony honoring police officers, but at one point pivoted to chastise communities for failing to recognize the work officers do.

"Today, the American people have to focus on something else, which is the sacrifice and the service that is given by our law enforcement officers. And they have to start showing, more than they do, the respect and support that law enforcement deserves," he said.

He continued: "If communities don't give that support and respect, they might find themselves without the police protection they need."

The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on what Barr meant, or which communities he was referring to.

But civil-rights activists widely interpreted Barr's remarks to be a threat against those who have protested in recent years against fatal police shootings or instances of excessive force and misconduct.

It's also unclear whether Barr intended his remarks as a threat to take specific actions against the communities, or if he simply meant that such communities might struggle to hire and retain police officers.

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