Michael McDowell writing in the Irish Times on the racism driving Donald Trump.
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In July, 2017, Donald Trump, newly elected president of the United States, organised a rally of uniformed police officers on Long Island in New York state. His audience were ranged in front of him and a number were seated behind him as he spoke. This was a classical visual format to suggest to television audiences that his uniformed audience were, in effect, supportive of him and his remarks.
Boris Johnson, by the way, unsuccessfully tried a similarly crass visual stunt in the course of the run-up to his 2019 election campaign, addressing police in West Yorkshire – having kept his uniformed trainee police officer audience waiting an hour. It backfired for Johnson.
But not so for Trump, who grossly abused his office (and the police officers’ offices) at Long Island to speak to his own grassroots in nasty, dog-whistle racist terms.
Referring to gang members and to what he termed “criminal aliens”, Trump told his Long Island police audience: “They’re animals.” He said that he had a simple message for them, “We will find you, we will arrest you, we will jail you and we will deport you.”
Continue reading @ Irish Times.
People are going have to get over this Trump insanity. He'll be away soon and black people will still be getting shot like dogs in the street, let's see if CNN support the riots when Biden's president. They were getting shot and choked out under Obama. It's not a new phenomenon.
ReplyDeleteDavid
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately there is no guarantee that Trump swill be away soon. Joe Biden has to prove to the younger African-American demographic that he will walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
Of course bnacks neking killed by white cops is not a new phenomenon. But Trump has played to racist sentiment like no other Amderican president and has showed xero awreness and empathy like no other.
Thdere has to bde a radical and transformative ovderhaul of policing and juistice in the US and it must bde the top priority of a Biden administration.
Ree;lection of Trump coiuld spell thde end of American democracy.
Barry,
ReplyDeleteI all but guarantee that a Biden administration won't have an overhaul of the policing. You get some platitudes, that'll be it. Look at the man's political history it's atrocious. Trump spelling the end of US democracy is more sensationalist nonsense. We have had four years and what's changed? Apart from his Twitter war with the press and their Russian conspiracy theories, what changes? Where's his wall? The immigration, deportation numbers are the same, in fact I think Obama's were worse, to the extent Ann Coulter now hates him. Their foreign policy remains the same, wall street supremacy remains the same. Where's is the substantial difference in the fabric of American life?
Trump's done and good riddance to him. There is a standard set now. For I start I expect calls for Biden to be impeached over his Ukrainian telephone conversation, his audio is available everywhere. The me too people should go in to overdrive as we have yet another rapist in the White house in Biden. B.L.M should go berserk as we'll have a president who supported actual racist policies in his early political career. M.S.M should be full of Chinese conspiracy theories due to the president's business dealings. We'll see
All this bollocks that’s doing the rounds about Trump and how he’s bringing down democracy I for one don’t get it, Trump is clearly taking the piss out of everyone he’s a TV Reality host who wrangled his way to become President
ReplyDeleteHe got there by being a Billionaire democracy wasn’t an issue you must have money in order to stand for their so called rigged election he didn’t even win the election but still he made President so anyone that is of the opinion that Trump is the problem is way of the mark, Trump is actually doing everyone a favour by exposing how utterly corrupt the system of governess is they tried to impeach him didn’t work because of sheer incompetence ‘ why are they not coming down more firmly on him and keeping him on track well it’s a bit like a prostitute who has a little book of names for an emergency
Name one President that wasn’t a millionaire or had millionaires backing him and people with money only cater for one person themselves
Trump will get a second term of that I’ve no doubt because the resistance to him is negligible a few protesters on the streets if Americans were really serious about stomping out racism, they would have millions on the streets not a couple of thousand
Boyne Rover
DeleteThreatening to use troops against US citizens under an 1807 Act as Trump has warned is one serious departure from democtratic practice. Another is the wholesale appointment of conservastive judvges at every level of the judicial system apppointed less for legal competence and for ideolgocal compliance is another. Stripping of powers frokm and hollowing out agencies life the Environmental Protection Agency to suit the agenda of climate change deniers yet another, The strippling away of foreign policy expertise from the State Department etc, etc.
That the US along with two other countries headed by Trumpian-style populists has the highest Covid-19 death rate in the world due to Trump's appalling handling of the pandemic and his dismiossal of practically every Cabninet and Federal official that disagreeed with him represents the behavious of a tin-pot dictator. As is his incessant war on the mdedia.
The only constitutional method of removing Trump, impeachment failed because Republican Senators cravenly put party interest before national interest and voted to acquit him.
The only other legal avenue for removing him is under the Twenty-Fifth Amendment (I tnink) for a team of psychiatrists to declare him mentally unfit to be President. A military coup may look attractive to some but should never bne encouraged in a democracy.
So be afraidm be very affraid if Tfrump is reelected.
Btw, there are more than a 'few' protestors on the streets. Thousands in cities across the US are braviing the pandemic to support Black Lives Matter. There may very well be a march of a million on Washington.
David
ReplyDeleteWhat has xhanged is that the US has a President that openly incites violence and does not see the differdecne bdetween neonazi and white suprdemacist marchers and their Antifa opponents. EWorse still is a complete lack of lesdership in the White Houswe due to Trump beoing surrlounded by sycpphants and lackeys.
Boyne rover,
ReplyDeleteHundred per cent. He's a pampered property developer come reality star who blagged his way into the White house. Comparisons between him and dictators are ridiculous. While these people were monsters they were also soldiers with balls of steel, this guy is a fucking idiot who'll cement his family's dynasty.
Barry,
There's no substance to what you say. White supremacist groups haven't grown. Attacks haven't increased. Antifa are more active. Is there a left wing militancy under Trump. For what I see antifa look like little suburban kids who'll piss themselves if people open up. Would you support this destruction of property if Trump wasn't president? I'm looking forward to seeing your activism when Biden is President. A southern racist rapist.