Waking up to another racist rhetoric by Donald Trump, president of the former British colony (United States), against people of colour – Africans and Haitians – because they want to exercise their right to migrate to wherever they want, set my mind on fire.
Only a few days apart, he accused Haitians of having AIDS, said Nigerians were living in huts, and now, calling African nations, Haiti and El Salvador “shithole” countries during a meeting on immigration with a bipartisan group of senators at the White House. According to a Washington Post report, Trump questioned:
Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” and “Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out.
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This is four times too many callous remarks that should go unpunished. America was built on the blood and pain of slaves from Africa and reinvigorated under the tenets of freedom and liberty. Yet, Trump, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, has muddied the struggling immigrant masses with populist shenanigans to appease his racist ego.
Among them are the violation of the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against potential minority renters, calling the Central Park Five (five black and Latino teens wrongly convicted of rape in Central Park in 1989) guilty despite DNA proving them innocent, questioning the authenticity of former president Barack Obama‘s birth certificate, and calling Mexicans drug dealers.
There are more: vowing to ban all Muslims from entering the US and enforcing bans on some Muslim countries, describing Nazis as “very fine people”, endorsing slavery supporter Roy Moore; all in two years after his shocking election victory.
Many Americans are bowing their heads in shame over Trump’s misdemeanour that is tantamount to impeachment per the United States Constitution which allows Congress to remove presidents before their term is up if they committed “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”
Somali-American politician, Ilhan Omar, who is the representative of Minnesota State said in a tweet after Trump’s racist comments on Thursday: “I am not ashamed of the country where I was born. I am not ashamed to call myself an American now. I am a proud immigrant refugee, Minnesotan and a proud State Legislator. But make no mistake, I am ashamed, disturbed and outraged that the leader of the United States can’t see beyond his own embarrassing privilege to embrace the diversity that has made this country great for generations.”
This afternoon President Trump was quoted referring to certain countries in Africa and the Caribbean as “shithole countries.” Read my statement below??#RacistInChief pic.twitter.com/bodZGh2V0j
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 12, 2018
Republican Representative Mia Love of Utah and of Haitian descent said in a tweet: “The President’s comments are unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nation’s values. This behavior is unacceptable from the leader of our nation … The President must apologize to both the American people and the nations he so wantonly maligned.”
Here is my statement on the President’s comments today: pic.twitter.com/EdtsFjc2zL
— Rep. Mia Love (@RepMiaLove) January 11, 2018
Should the condemnation continue until he plunges the country into a state of chaos and anarchy? Those in positions of power to effect a positive change in the great nation of America need to decide quickly before it’s too late. Trump’s attitude is equally grave like those of three U.S. presidents subjected to impeachment proceedings.
The heartbreaking silence of African leaders whose countries and citizens are being bullied and demeaned calls for another check on their position and affiliation. Statements are not being issued, boycotts are not being announced and protests are not being held against the mistreatment of people of colour at home and in the U.S. Are they afraid of threats like those issued after the vote against the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital?
To African leaders: for once, please sacrifice the aid usually received under very unfavourable terms for the dignity of your people by speaking up in one spirit against these shameful acts of Donald Trump.
According to news reports, Haiti’s ambassador to the United States, Paul Altidor condemned Trump’s remark saying:
Haitians fought along U.S. soldiers in the Revolutionary War and we continue to be great contributors to American society.
He added that the comment is a “stereotype” and an “assault” on Haitian citizens and the country’s history, according to Yamiche Alcindor, a PBS NewsHour White House correspondent.
Haiti’s government is reported to have formally requested for a U.S. official to explain the remarks to its officials. Haitians have also sent requests to their embassy in Washington, D.C. seeking an apology.
Haiti’s US Ambassador Paul Altidor tells me Haiti’s government has formerly summoned a US official to explain Trump’s comments to Haiti’s officials. “Haitians fought along US soldiers in the revolutionary war and we continue to be great contributors to American society,” he said https://t.co/adRajn3O5y
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) January 12, 2018
Aren’t these shameful Trump racist rhetorics good enough reason to take a permanent action? We in the “shithole” countries believe in you America. Make us proud.
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