Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 25 SepteMber 2017
Black lawmakers ponder Trump agenda at annual gathering

By ERRIN HAINES WHACK lies ahead of us.” treat from discussion of dis-
Associated Press Those who flocked to the parities in policing of minor-
WASHINGTON (AP) — On nation’s capital for the ity communities.
the campaign trail last gathering of black law- The conference also hap-
year, then-Republican makers, leaders and policy pened as Trump attacked
presidential nominee Don- experts identified multiple NFL players who kneel in
ald Trump sought the sup- ways that black Americans protest during the national
port of black voters by ask- are losing ground under anthem. Since last season,
ing them, “What the hell do President Trump’s watch. several players have knelt
you have to lose?” The conference, which or raise fists when the an-
An answer came during ended Sunday, took place them is played to protest
the Congressional Black against the backdrop of police treatment of blacks
Caucus’ annual legislative yet another attempt by the and social injustice.
conference this past week: GOP-controlled Congress This year’s CBC conference
Everything. to undo a signature do- was the first since President
“We are losing essential mestic achievement of the Barack Obama left office,
freedoms,” said Brittany country’s first black presi- shifting the national black
Packnett, who became an dent, the Affordable Care political leadership mantle In this March 22, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump meets
advocate for criminal jus- Act. Over the past eight from the White House back with members of the Congressional Black Caucus in the Cabi-
tice reform after the 2014 months, black Americans to Capitol Hill. The heavily net Room of the White House in Washington.
police killing of Michael have also been alarmed Democratic caucus — cur- Associated Press
Brown and subsequent by the administration’s at- rently boasting its largest- who got only 8 percent of who have wholeheartedly
protests in Ferguson, Mis- tempt to undo federal ever membership with 49 the black vote when he embraced it.
souri. “The mood is resolute. housing programs, a lack representatives and sena- was elected last Novem- “Racism is still deeply em-
No one is confused about of funding for historically tors — so far has had a tes- ber. bedded in American soci-
the amount of work that black colleges, and a re- ty relationship with Trump, Trump met with CBC lead- ety,” said Lewis, a veteran
ership in March. But in civil rights activist. “We
June, the caucus turned have to call it what it is at
down an invitation to meet all levels, whether it’s at the
again, saying their con- White House or the poor
cerns have fallen on “deaf house. Don’t try to sweep it
ears” at the White House, under the rug like it doesn’t
and that Trump’s policies still exist.”
are harmful to black Amer- Waters, who has been a
icans. staunch and vocal critic of
Trump’s claim that “many Trump, was cheered when
sides” were responsible for she called Attorney Gen-
racial violence in Charlot- eral Jeff Sessions “a racist.”
tesville, Virginia, in August, “He’s a throwback,” Wa-
and that there were “very ters said. She noted Ses-
fine people” among the sions’ reversal of ex-Attor-
white nationalists in atten- ney General Eric Holder’s
dance protesting the pos- stance on mandatory mini-
sible removal of a statue mums for crack-cocaine
of Confederate general prison sentences, which
Robert E. Lee, generated have disproportionately af-
controversy. fected African-Americans,
Trump has rejected the and his review of federal
persistent condemna- consent decrees for local
tion of his words and ac- law enforcement agen-
tions on matters involving cies.
race. Speaking from the Sessions saw his nomi-
White House amid over- nation to be a federal
whelming criticism of his judge turned away in
statements, he declared, 1986 because of allega-
“Racism is evil,” and said tions he had made racially
he condemned white su- charged comments. He
premacists and other hate said then, “I am not a rac-
groups. He declared him- ist,” and during his confir-
self to be “the least racist mation this year rejected
person that you have ever “the caricature that was
met” in a December 2015 created of me,” saying, “It
interview with CNN. wasn’t accurate then, and
At a raucous town hall it’s not accurate now.”
meeting on Thursday, Reps. During the campaign,
John Lewis of Georgia and many black voters were
Maxine Waters of Califor- put off by Trump’s refer-
nia urged attendees to ences to blacks “living in
push back against Trump’s hell” and his promises to
agenda and the newly restore “law and order” to
emboldened neo-Nazis cities like Philadelphia, Chi-
and white supremacists cago and Baltimore. q