CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA – This past Sunday marked a year since the now infamous Charlottesville riots, that not only claimed the life of Heather Heyer, but painted a clear picture of the racial division in our country, and our president’s racist rhetoric that condoning it.
Now, more than a year later, Donald Trump’s rhetoric continues to target the minorities of our country while embolding white supremacist enthusiasts.
“The president’s demeaning and degrading and cruel attacks on minorities make people feel like they have a license to hate, make people feel like they have license to hurt others,” New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said in a AP article.
Senator Booker is one of the only three African-Americans senators currently serving in the United States Senate.
One prime example is how Trump’s rhetoric referring to undocumented immigrants as criminals and animals has resulted in the inhumane detention, incarceration, and separation of thousands of immigrant families from our southern borders.
These families were kept in metal cages – we’ve all seen the video – shoved together like animals. To make matters worse, the administration separated children from parents without any hesitation or consideration for the consequences that could result from such inhumane treatment.
“The riots in Charlottesville a year ago resulted in senseless death and division,” Trump tweeted on Saturday.
“We must come together as a nation. I condemn all types of racism and acts of violence. Peace to ALL Americans!”
At first glance the tweet seems understanding, condemning racism and violence, however, typing the word “ALL” in all capital letters gives off a similar feeling to the controversial statements Trump made right after the Charlottesville riot took place more than a year ago.
“You have people who are very fine people on both sides,” was Trump’s initial remark to the incident. Huffington Post reported that the president was waiting on “the facts” before condemning white supremacists.
No Trump, there were not “fine people” on both sides.
Two days later, he condemned white supremacists in a very scripted message. Too late to retract Trump, we know what you meant.
To further prove a point, the next day after condemning white supremacist, Trump stated there was “blame on both sides.”
For this reason, Trump’s all-caps of the word “ALL” gives the sense that he is still very much behind his racist reasoning of putting “blame on both sides” and believing that both sides had “fine people.”
Another prime example of the consequences of Trump’s racist rhetoric can be seen in the abundance of videos showing white people calling the cops on a people of color in the last year, which have become somewhat of a norm on our social media feeds.
Who do you think is making these people feel entitled enough to call police on minorities for no reason other than racial prejudice?
Trump, and his racist, xenophobic rhetoric, that’s who.
The sad reality is that one year after the Charlottesville riot, nothing has changed. Trump’s racist rhetoric continues to grow and nurture racial division in our country.