Trump again refuses to take responsibility for a resurgence of white nationalism
After the deadly clash between hundreds of white supremacists and counter-protesters today in Charlottesville, Virginia, President Trump called for Americans to 鈥渃ome together."
He used similar words in his victory speech in the wee hours of Nov. 9, even as white supremacists began to celebrate.
The problem is that Trump鈥檚 words are hollow.
His calls for the country to unite will continue to be meaningless as long he fails to take responsibility for his role in dividing it 鈥� something he conspicuously avoided again during his press conference today.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been going on for a long time,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淣ot Donald Trump. Not Barack Obama.鈥�
It鈥檚 true. America has had racial strife since its founding.
But from the day he came down the escalator in the tower that bears his name, Trump consciously poured fuel on the fire. He ran a racist, xenophobic campaign that energized the radical right 鈥� that 鈥渦nearthed some demons,鈥� as U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford put it.
The day after Trump was elected, hate incidents soared. Many of them were carried out in his name.
Neo-Nazi David Duke, the former Klan leader who endorsed Trump during his campaign, had this to say about the deadly violence in Charlottesville:
鈥淭his represents a turning point for the people of this country. We are determined to take our country back. We are going to fulfill the promises of Donald Trump. That鈥檚 what we believed in. That鈥檚 why we voted for Donald Trump, because he said he鈥檚 going to take our country back.鈥�
Duke鈥檚 words reflect the views of a white nationalist movement that sees Trump as its champion. Let there be no mistake: This is a fascist movement that threatens not only extremist violence but our democracy as well.
All the while, Trump continues to employ as his chief strategist the former head of Breitbart News, Stephen Bannon, who has proudly boasted that he provided 鈥渢he platform for the alt-right鈥� 鈥� a fancy term for white supremacy in the digital age.
All the while, .
Trump calls for the country to unite. But he is still ducking responsibility for his role in dividing it.
Until he apologizes and takes responsibility for the damage he has caused and enacts policies to mend the wounds in our country, his words will continue to ring hollow.
Sign our petition and tell Donald Trump to reject hatred and bigotry.
