Al Sharpton: Trump's civil rights museum speech was about 'trying to diffuse' anger at Roy Moore and 'his own racism'
by Daniel Chaitin | Dec 9, 2017, 2:02 PM
Rev. Al Sharpton said President Trump's brief speech Saturday at the opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, Miss., was a "missed opportunity" to talk about issues of race relations and instead served as a cover for Trump to "diffuse" anger in nearby Alabama over Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore.
At the event, Trump honored civil rights leaders, spoke of the desire for children to grow up “free from fear,†and declared the nation will devote itself to honoring the legacies of those who fought for equality.
Sharpton, responding to the speech in a panel on MSNBC, said Trump failed to address "the issues of today" that impact African-Americans. He listed off a number of issues, including voting rights, healthcare, and police reform, and expressed his disappointment that those in attendance at the event didn't confront Trump for not bringing up policy. Sharpton said if he was in the room, he would have confronted Trump, but when asked if he had hoped Reps. John Lewis, D-Ga., and Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who boycotted the event, had been there to ask questions, Sharpton indicated that he respected their decisions.
more
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/al-sharpton-trumps-civil-rights-museum-speech-was-about-trying-to-diffuse-anger-at-roy-moore-and-his-own-racism/article/2643048
