United States President Donald Trump has been facing backlash for his comments about the violent white supremacist rally in Virginia earlier this week. Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and some other lawmakers are now planning to introduce a congressional resolution to censure Trump for the comments.
“Not even a week has passed since the tragedy in Charlottesville. But on Tuesday, the President poured salt on the nation’s wounds by defending those who marched with white supremacists,” Jayapal said in a media statement.
Trump Blamed “Both Sides” Again
Jayapal referred to the press conference in which Trump blamed “both sides” for the events at the ‘Unite the Right’ rally, leading to a white nationalist allegedly ramming his car into counter-protesters, killing one woman and wounding 19 others in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The ‘Unite the Right’ march was a rally planned to protest against the removal of a statue of General Robert E Lee, who commanded the pro-slavery Confederate forces during the American Civil War.
Jayapal said that the press conference showed “the real and unfiltered Donald Trump — the logical endpoint for a man who has consistently trafficked in racism throughout his career.”
Trump Failed to Take a Stand
The resolution, which is to be introduced in the US House of Representatives on August 18, is sponsored by Congressman Jerrold Nadler and Bonnie Watson Coleman.
A total of 47 lawmakers led by Jayapal unveiled the resolution, which asks Trump to take a stand against the white nationalists, the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis and other hate groups responsible for the violence. In the resolution, they have also urged the President to remove individuals who support white supremacists, including Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller and Sebastian Gorka, from the White House and the Trump administration.
“President Trump not only failed at condemning white supremacists and neo-Nazis, he stood up for them — for that he must be censured. The President’s conduct is un-American and it must stop,” Jayapal added.
Senators Call for Urgent Action
Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Maria Cantwell also called for action following the recent outburst of violent racism by white supremacist organisations and individuals in Charlottesville.
“President Trump’s reluctance to quickly and directly condemn the hate, bigotry, and racism of the white supremacists and members of the Ku Klux Klan that gathered in Charlottesville was deeply alarming to us and to millions of Americans,” the Senators wrote in a statement.