Trump Can’t Spin His Shameful Record and Atrocious Rhetoric Toward African Americans
Ahead of Donald Trump’s visit to Benedict College today, South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Trav Robertson released the following statement:
“No matter what he says today, Donald Trump can’t erase his years of broken promises, harmful policies and atrocious rhetoric that have hurt our African American community — a shameful record that spans his entire adult life. Time and again, he has ruthlessly rolled back hardfought progress for people of color. He has no business appearing at Benedict College.”
Here’s the truth on Trump’s record with the African American community—one that extends long before this week’s lynching comment:
– Trump ended Obama-era initiatives aimed at rebuilding trust between community members and police departments.
– Meanwhile, he limited investigations of police departments, advocated for the return of “stop and frisk” and encouraged police brutality.
– Trump said he had “no opinion” on whether there are racial disparities in law enforcement.
Trump’s administration has worked to make life harder for defendants and incarcerated people.
– Trump rescinded guidance geared toward protecting lower-income people from being buried in legal fees.
– He shuttered a DOJ office dedicated to making legal aid accessible to all citizens.
– Each of his budgets has called for the defunding of the Legal Services Corporation, the country’s largest sponsor of civil legal aid.
Trump has pushed to roll back discrimination protections for black students.
– Trump repeatedly took aim at African Americans during his 2016 campaign
– “You have so many in poverty and the crime is horrible and the education is terrible and they live terribly.” –Sept. 1, 2016
– “You’re living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58% of your youth is unemployed.” –Aug. 19, 2016
Trump has continuously courted support from white supremecists.
– Trump refused to disavow the KKK four times in one interview.
– Trump said there were “very fine people” on both sides at a white supremacist march in Charlottesville.
– Complaining about the removal of Confederate monuments, Trump said, “They’re trying to take away our culture. They’re trying to take away our history.”
Trump has repeatedly attacked the Black Lives Matter movement.
– “Black lives matter? But do you think white lives matter? … To me, all lives matter.” –Nov. 23, 2015
– “I think they’re trouble. I think they’re looking for trouble. I looked at a couple of the people that were interviewed from the group. I saw with them with hate coming down the street last week talking about cops and police and what should be done to them. And that was not good. And I think it’s a disgrace that they’re getting away with it.” – Sept. 8, 2015
He systematically discriminated against African Americans throughout his business career.
– When the Trump Organization didn’t want to rent apartments to African American or Latinx tenants, they marked the application with a “C” for “colored.”
– Trump’s company violated an anti-districimation agreement with the Department of Justice by steering people of color to poorly maintained properties.
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