By National Action Network
Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), on Jan. 12 condemned recent claims from President Trump that White people were “very badly treated” as a result of laws and policies adopted during the Civil Rights Movement. Trump’s alarming statements to the New York Times come as his administration and right-wing advocates continue to undo decades of equal opportunity protections, voting rights protections and minimizing the upcoming federal King Day holiday.
“Donald Trump sent up his latest test balloon for erasing Black history with his twisted, alarming claims that White Americans were discriminated against from the Civil Rights protections that many fought, bled and in many cases died for. The facts simply don’t match up to the reality Donald Trump has chosen to live in. Even more than 60 years after the Civil Rights Act or the Voting Rights Act, many Black Americans continue to lack access to equitable education, capital dollars or even their right to exercise democracy. Under Donald Trump’s watch that has only gotten worse as we’ve seen diversity, equity and inclusion eradicated from the federal government. The Supreme Court has already gutted affirmative action and stands on the verge of wiping out the last pillar of the Voting Rights Act,” Sharpton said.
“That he made these statements on the eve of the King Federal Holiday is perhaps the most telling. The Trump administration has already made attempts to minimize this holiday, as well as Juneteenth, while propping up his own birthday. It’s the latest in thousands of cuts the president has taken to not simply Black rights but our history, our culture, and our role in building up this nation. As we prepare for the King Federal Holiday, National Action Network will ensure that Dr. King’s legacy is not only preserved but advanced. His Dream of a just, fair nation is the light our nation needs as the antidote to Trump’s nightmare.”
About National Action Network (NAN)
National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Rev. Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender.