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Trump defends ‘beautiful’ Civil War statues | Trump defends ‘beautiful’ Civil War statues |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US President Donald Trump has denounced the removal of "beautiful" Confederate statues amid a heated national debate about US race relations. | US President Donald Trump has denounced the removal of "beautiful" Confederate statues amid a heated national debate about US race relations. |
"Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments," he tweeted. | "Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments," he tweeted. |
"You can't change history, but you can learn from it," he continued. | "You can't change history, but you can learn from it," he continued. |
Mr Trump drew outrage by defending organisers of a white supremacist rally that left a woman dead and dozens hurt. | Mr Trump drew outrage by defending organisers of a white supremacist rally that left a woman dead and dozens hurt. |
The rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, supported by neo-Nazis and white supremacists, was in protest of the removal of a statue of Robert E Lee, a general who had fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the US Civil War. | The rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, supported by neo-Nazis and white supremacists, was in protest of the removal of a statue of Robert E Lee, a general who had fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the US Civil War. |
It turned deadly when a driver ploughed into a crowd of counter protesters, inflicting fatal injuries on Heather Heyer. | It turned deadly when a driver ploughed into a crowd of counter protesters, inflicting fatal injuries on Heather Heyer. |
"Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson - who's next, Washington, Jefferson? So foolish!" Mr Trump continued in a series of tweets on Thursday. | "Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson - who's next, Washington, Jefferson? So foolish!" Mr Trump continued in a series of tweets on Thursday. |
"The beauty that is being taken out of our cities, towns and parks will be greatly missed and never able to be comparably replaced!" | "The beauty that is being taken out of our cities, towns and parks will be greatly missed and never able to be comparably replaced!" |
The recent removal of controversial statues, including some to leaders of the pro-slavery rebellion defeated in the US Civil War, has been the latest flashpoint in racial tensions across the country. | The recent removal of controversial statues, including some to leaders of the pro-slavery rebellion defeated in the US Civil War, has been the latest flashpoint in racial tensions across the country. |
Critics say monuments to the Confederacy are racially offensive, but supporters say they are important symbols preserving Southern heritage. | Critics say monuments to the Confederacy are racially offensive, but supporters say they are important symbols preserving Southern heritage. |
Maine's Governor Paul LePage, a Republican, said on Thursday taking down Confederate statues is "just like" removing a monument to the victims of the 9/11 attacks. | |
But relatives of Stonewall Jackson, a Confederate leader Mr Trump mentioned in his Thursday tweets, wrote an open letter to the mayor of Richmond, Virginia, urging him to remove the statue of their great-great-grandfather and all other Confederate statues in town. | |
Jack and Warren Christian, Mr Jackson's great-great-sons, said removing the statues would "further difficult conversations about racial justice". | Jack and Warren Christian, Mr Jackson's great-great-sons, said removing the statues would "further difficult conversations about racial justice". |
"While we are not ashamed of our great-great-grandfather, we are ashamed to benefit from white supremacy while our black family and friends suffer," the pair wrote. "We are ashamed of the monument." | "While we are not ashamed of our great-great-grandfather, we are ashamed to benefit from white supremacy while our black family and friends suffer," the pair wrote. "We are ashamed of the monument." |
Robert E Lee V, the great-great-grandson of the famous Confederate general, issued a statement condemning the violence in the wake of the statue removals. | Robert E Lee V, the great-great-grandson of the famous Confederate general, issued a statement condemning the violence in the wake of the statue removals. |
"While the debate about how we memorialise figures from our past continues, we the descendants of Robert E Lee decry in the strongest terms the misuse of his memory by those advancing a message of intolerance and hate," he said in a statement to the BBC. | "While the debate about how we memorialise figures from our past continues, we the descendants of Robert E Lee decry in the strongest terms the misuse of his memory by those advancing a message of intolerance and hate," he said in a statement to the BBC. |
"He never would have tolerated the hateful words and violent actions of white supremacists, the KKK, or Neo Nazis." | "He never would have tolerated the hateful words and violent actions of white supremacists, the KKK, or Neo Nazis." |
The president's comments came after a week of turmoil over his response to the violent clashes in the small Virginia town. | The president's comments came after a week of turmoil over his response to the violent clashes in the small Virginia town. |
Mr Trump was criticised for blaming both sides for the violence, but belatedly condemned the white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups on Monday. | Mr Trump was criticised for blaming both sides for the violence, but belatedly condemned the white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups on Monday. |
During a heated news conference on Tuesday he backtracked and again blamed left-wing counter-protesters for the incident, too. | During a heated news conference on Tuesday he backtracked and again blamed left-wing counter-protesters for the incident, too. |
Amid the fallout over the president's response, corporate leaders and CEOs began resigning from two White House business councils. | Amid the fallout over the president's response, corporate leaders and CEOs began resigning from two White House business councils. |
On Wednesday, the Strategy and Policy Forum announced it would disband as Mr Trump said he would end the council as well as a manufacturing one. | On Wednesday, the Strategy and Policy Forum announced it would disband as Mr Trump said he would end the council as well as a manufacturing one. |
More on what happened in Charlottesville | More on what happened in Charlottesville |