He knew he wasn’t wanted there, but he went anyway. President Trump traveled to Jackson, Mississippi yesterday to attend the opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum over the protests of the NAACP and noted civil rights leaders including Congressman John Lewis (D-GA).
The controversy over his presence at this new museum dedicated to commemorating the history of the struggle of African-Americans for equality and justice was so heated that Trump spoke at a private ceremony instead of at the main event, and left before the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
It was just as well, given the quality of his speech. Noting that the museum focused on the “injustice” faced by African-Americans and their attempts to fight for equal rights, he said “That’s big stuff. Those are very big phrases, very big words,” as if the size of words somehow related to their importance.
Congressman Lewis refused to attend the opening ceremony due to Trump’s presence and issued a joint statement with Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) who also declined to attend.
“President Trump’s attendance and his hurtful policies are an insult to the people portrayed in this civil rights museum. The struggles represented in this museum exemplify the truth of what really happened in Mississippi,” they wrote. “President Trump’s disparaging comments about women, the disabled, immigrants and National Football League players disrespect the efforts of Fannie Lou Hamer, Aaron Henry, Medgar Evers, Robert Clark, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner and countless others who have given their all for Mississippi to be a better place. After President Trump departs, we encourage all Mississippians and Americans to visit this historic civil rights museum.”
Now that the President has left the premises, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is now declared devoid of hypocrisy and safe for the rest of America. Go visit to see how bad things were in the past that the Republican party wants you to return to.
