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Fury as Trump compares impeachment inquiry to 'lynching' Fury as Trump compares impeachment inquiry to 'lynching'
(32 minutes later)
Donald Trump referred to impeachment proceedings against him as a “lynching” in a Tuesday morning tweet, sparking condemnation for using such a racially charged word to describe his political predicament.Donald Trump referred to impeachment proceedings against him as a “lynching” in a Tuesday morning tweet, sparking condemnation for using such a racially charged word to describe his political predicament.
“So some day,” the president wrote, “if a Democrat becomes president and the Republicans win the House, even by a tiny margin, they can impeach the president, without due process or fairness or any legal rights. All Republicans must remember what they are witnessing here – a lynching. But we will WIN!”
The sadism of white men: why America must atone for its lynchingsThe sadism of white men: why America must atone for its lynchings
“So some day,” the president wrote, “if a Democrat becomes president and the Republicans win the House, even by a tiny margin, they can impeach the president, without due process or fairness or any legal rights. All Republicans must remember what they are witnessing here – a lynching. But we will WIN!”
The tweet fit with Trump’s history of racist remarks and his strategic use of cruelty, and some saw in it a political strategy. The tweet drew a chorus of outrage.The tweet fit with Trump’s history of racist remarks and his strategic use of cruelty, and some saw in it a political strategy. The tweet drew a chorus of outrage.
“That is one word that no president ought to apply to himself,” the South Carolina representative James Clyburn, the House majority whip, said on CNN. “I’m not just a politician … I’m a product of the south. I know the history of that word.”“That is one word that no president ought to apply to himself,” the South Carolina representative James Clyburn, the House majority whip, said on CNN. “I’m not just a politician … I’m a product of the south. I know the history of that word.”
The California representative Karen Bass, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, told CNN that Trump’s “lynching” tweet was consistent with his pattern of throwing out “racial bombs” to give “red meat” to his base when his back his against the wall, network correspondent Manu Raju said. Lynching is a reprehensible stain on this nation’s history, as is this president
The California representative Karen Bass, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, told CNN Trump’s “lynching” tweet was consistent with his pattern of throwing out “racial bombs” to give “red meat” to his base when his back is against the wall, correspondent Manu Raju said.
“You think this impeachment is a LYNCHING?” tweeted the Illinois representative Bobby Rush. “What the hell is wrong with you? Do you know how many people who look like me have been lynched, since the inception of this country, by people who look like you. Delete this tweet.”“You think this impeachment is a LYNCHING?” tweeted the Illinois representative Bobby Rush. “What the hell is wrong with you? Do you know how many people who look like me have been lynched, since the inception of this country, by people who look like you. Delete this tweet.”
The Democratic presidential hopeful Julián Castro wrote: “It’s beyond shameful to use the word ‘lynching’ to describe being held accountable for your actions.” “Lynching is a reprehensible stain on this nation’s history, as is this president,” wrote presidential candidate and California senator Kamala Harris. “We’ll never erase the pain and trauma of lynching, and to invoke that torture to whitewash your own corruption is disgraceful.”
The presidential hopeful Julián Castro wrote: “It’s beyond shameful to use the word ‘lynching’ to describe being held accountable for your actions.”
“Lynching?!” tweeted the New York Time columnist Charles Blow. “Sir, don’t you DARE invoke the darkness of America’s viciousness toward black people to defend your corruption. How dare you?!…”“Lynching?!” tweeted the New York Time columnist Charles Blow. “Sir, don’t you DARE invoke the darkness of America’s viciousness toward black people to defend your corruption. How dare you?!…”
This is a lynching in every sense
“When the polls get tough, Potus turns to race,” tweeted Julian Zelizer, a historian at Princeton University.“When the polls get tough, Potus turns to race,” tweeted Julian Zelizer, a historian at Princeton University.
The impeachment inquiry being run by Democrats who control the House centres on Trump’s attempts to get Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.The impeachment inquiry being run by Democrats who control the House centres on Trump’s attempts to get Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.
According to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), from 1882 to 1968, “4,743 lynchings” – that is, extrajudicial murders – “occurred in the United States. Of these people that were lynched 3,446 were black.”According to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), from 1882 to 1968, “4,743 lynchings” – that is, extrajudicial murders – “occurred in the United States. Of these people that were lynched 3,446 were black.”
“These numbers seem large,” the NAACP added, “but it is known that not all of the lynchings were ever recorded.” “These numbers seem large, but it is known that not all of the lynchings were ever recorded.”
America’s first lynching memorial and museum was opened in Montgomery, Alabama, last year.America’s first lynching memorial and museum was opened in Montgomery, Alabama, last year.
Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina senator who went from fiercely opposing Trump in the 2016 to becoming a stalwart defender of the president, said that process of impeachment now under way – as prescribed in the constitution rather than “without due process”, as Trump claimed – did in fact amount to a lynching.
“This is a lynching in every sense,” Graham said.
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
US politicsUS politics
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