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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 27 november 2019

Melania Trump defends rights

of Baltimore teens to boo her

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE rodent infested." continuing.
Associated Press She traveled there to urge The first lady said she wants
BALTIMORE (AP) — Melania hundreds of middle and to raise awareness about
Trump on Tuesday defend- high school students to the opioid epidemic and
ed the rights of teenagers avoid misusing drugs, say- help educate young peo-
who booed her when she ing that would make it ple about living drug free.
addressed them in Balti- harder for them to achieve "I am in this fight with you,
more, a city her husband, their life's goals. But her re- and I am fighting for you,"
First lady Melania Trump speaks at the B'More Youth Summit, President Donald Trump, marks drew a mix of boos she said, and urged any-
Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019, at UMBC in Baltimore. has disparaged as "rat and and cheers, and the au- one struggling with addic-
dience remained noisy tion to ask someone for
throughout her five-minute help.
address. "I know each one of you
It is highly unusual for a first has hopes and dreams for
lady to be booed at a pub- the future, whether it is col-
lic appearance. Mrs. Trump lege, joining the military, or
released a statement hours playing a sport. Your future
after she had returned to will be determined by the
the White House, defend- choices you make," Mrs.
ing the principle of free- Trump said.
dom of expression while re- "Using drugs will only slow
affirming her commitment you down and prevent
to the issue that drew her you from achieving those
to Baltimore. goals."
"We live in a democracy President Trump has had
and everyone is entitled to a difficult relationship with
their opinion, but the fact is Baltimore.
we have a serious crisis in In July, Trump labeled the
our country and I remain city a "disgusting, rat and
committed to educating rodent infested mess," say-
children on the dangers ing no human would want
and deadly consequences to live there.
of drug abuse," Mrs. Trump The president also criticized
said. U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings,
The first lady has been using a Democrat who repre-
her prominence to spot- sented parts of the city
light programs she thinks in Congress for decades.
can help young people, At the time of his death in
whether it's to teach them October, Cummings was
to be positive online or to a central player in multi-
avoid drug misuse and ad- ple House investigations of
diction. Trump and his administra-
She went to Maryland tion.
to address the Baltimore Trump refused to cooper-
Youth Summit on Opioid ate with the congressional
Awareness, appearing inquiries.
on behalf of her "Be Best" He was met with protests in
youth campaign, which in- September, including by a
cludes a focus on the U.S. giant inflatable rat, when
epidemic of opioid misuse. he went to Baltimore to ad-
Students simultaneously dress a meeting of House
booed and cheered her in- Republicans.
troduction. The youth summit is spon-
When the audience re- sored by the U.S. Drug En-
mained rowdy after she forcement Administration
began to speak, she inter- and actor Mark Wahlberg's
rupted her remarks to say, youth foundation.
"Hello, everyone," before q