PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP could have made this crisis an opportunity to seize a defining moment in his troubled presidency — to prove he is indeed the president of all Americans as he has promised on the campaign trail and in his inaugural speech.
He could have used this as an opportunity to affirm what the Constitution declares that in America, ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL! But NO— Trump took 48 hours.
I take that back. I will explain later.
First, picture this: August 12, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. The “white nationalist” white supremacist, Neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan hate groups exercised their First Amendment right and marched in the streets of the quiet university town for their announced protest against the planned removal of Robert E. Lee’s Confederate statue — a monument that glorifies slavery in America.
The residents of Charlottesville and people who support the removal of the Confederate statues went on to exercise their First Amendment right as well, by counter-protesting in favor of the removal of the Confederate statue and to rally against the racist and hate groups.
But then the racist protesters went far and beyond their permit, and armed with torches, poles, Nazi symbols, they started chanting Nazi chants:
“You (African American) will not replace us.”
“Jews will not replace us.”
“One people, one nation, end immigration.”
“White lives matter.”
“Blood and soil.”Blood and soil.”
“Whose street? Our street!”
The encounter between protesters and counterprotesters became even more heated when these racists groups directed slurs directly against specific people, using the N-word and using phrases, like
“Go the f*** back to Africa.”
There were also armed militia men in camouflage, who, according to interviews and reports by The Washington Post, was lead by Christian Yingling, who has organized similar militia efforts at other right-wing gatherings.
The tension escalated and the police were caught flat-footed. Video reports showed violent altercations, including one of 20-year old Neo-Nazi supporter James Field from Ohio, driving a car and plowing through the counterprotesters, killing Heather Heyer and injuring dozens. Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen and Trooper Berke M. M. Bates of the Virginia State Police were killed in a helicopter crash near Charlottesville.
Last Saturday, August 12, President Donald Trump gave a statement saying: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence, on many sides. On many sides. It’s been going on for a long time in our country. Not Donald Trump, not Barack Obama. This has been going on for a long, long time.”
Trump has been swamped with criticisms from the people and leadership of Charlottesville and around the nation and the world, who wondered why did he NOT call out by name, condemn and disavow this domestic terrorism perpetrated by the white supremacists, alt-right and the KKK.
On Sunday, August 13, the White House issued a statement: “The president said very strongly in his statement yesterday that he condemns all forms of violence, bigotry and hatred, and of course that includes white supremacists, KKK, neo-Nazi, and all extremists groups. He called for national unity and bringing all Americans together.”
This was not acceptable to most Americans, many of whom were even perplexed considering how quick Trump unleashes his wrath via Twitter against those whom he calls “bad people,” those whom he does not like, and those who are critical of him.
Finally after 48 hours, amid pressure from both the Republicans and Democrats, Trump spoke again on Monday, August 14, in front of the camera, and read a scripted message on the teleprompter finally calling out the racist groups by name.
However, his tweets and actions following this just undermined his scripted message, when he whined against media asking him why it took him 48 hours to call out the racist groups. He then retweeted (and deleted) a tweet illustrating a train running over a man (labeled) CNN, calling mainstream media “fake news.”
Then on Tuesday, August 15, Trump held a press conference that just revealed his Saturday statement was what was really in his heart. He rationalized his Saturday statement contending he wanted facts before he made a statement.
As early as Saturday, we all knew about the fatal violence was perpetrated by the white supremacist groups; He should have seen what we all saw on TV regarding the Neo-Nazi racist and anti-Semitic chants, language, and action of the protesters— what facts did he need to call out and condemn the violence for what it was?
He went on to defend the racist protesters and suggested there were “fine people” there at their rally and not all were white supremacists. He went on to criticize what he called the “alt-left” groups whom he accused of being “very, very violent” when they sought to confront the white nationalist and Nazi groups. He contended there is “blame on both sides.”
Trump received thanks and accolades from the White Supremacist and Neo-Nazi leaders for speaking the “truth” on their behalf about what really happened in Charlottesville. They previously have said they support Trump because he would bring their country back. Trump did not disavow their support.
The president even criticized the clamor to take down the confederate flags and statues which glorify slavery in America. He claimed this was rewriting history and changing the American culture. He even asked reporters if this would mean that Washington and Jefferson’s statues would then be removed next because they too had slaves? Did Trump know that the Civil War, which abolished slavery under Lincoln, came after the time of Washington and Jefferson?
Why even put Confederate Leader Lee alongside Washington and Jefferson in their significance and importance in American history? Does Trump even know the pain slavery brought to many people in America? Does Trump even know the horrors the families of Jews had to go through during Hitler’s Nazi Germany?
SO — I take my word back: Trump did not really call out these racist and hate groups. His words and actions just revealed Donald Trump is not and could not be the president of ALL AMERICANS.
I am encouraged to see Republican leaders speaking out against Trump’s statement and stand on this issue. How about his other fans and supporters?
As Heather Heyer posted on Facebook before she was killed in Charlottesville, “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.”
This is not a Republican or Democratic issue. This is an American issue and we should all make a stand.
We do not have a president who will lift up, unify and heal the nation of the divisions because he is fanning the flame of division, hatred, and racism with his words and actions. Where is the president with moral compass and authority to do this? Trump is NOT that president.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
