Christine Haveford
The deadly massacres in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, have left dozens of families and community members in mourning.
The attacks have been described as “domestic terrorism” with many blaming President Trump’s “racist” rhetoric for the nation’s two latest mass shootings.
His political opponents have even accused him of using the same language as Patrick Crusius, the alleged El Paso mass-murderer.
But Trump has refused to take any responsibility for the shootings. Instead the leader of the free world has blamed “fake news” media for nation’s “anger and rage.”
Instead, in a statement he has called for more background checks and “desperately needed immigration reform.”
Trump has been been heavily criticized by celebrities including singers Rihanna and John Legend.
In the immediate after of the El Paso shooting, Trump tweeted: “Today’s shooting in El Paso, Texas, was not only tragic, it was an act of cowardice. I know that I stand with everyone in this Country to condemn today’s hateful act. There are no reasons or excuses that will ever justify killing innocent people.”
But Rihanna hit back: “Um… Donald, you spelt “terrorism” wrong! Your country had 2 terrorist attacks back to back, hours apart leaving almost 30 innocent people dead.”
“This, just days after yet another terrorist attack in California where a terrorist was able to LEGALLY purchase an assault rifle (AK-47) in Vegas, then drive hours to a food festival in Cali leaving 6 more people dead including a young infant baby boy!”
Grammy Award-winner and vocal Trump critic John Legend slammed the President on Twitter Sunday.
The “Glory” artist condemned Trump’s language and policies in the wake of the deadly massacres.
“The President regularly inspires killers. He is part of the problem,” Legend tweeted Sunday morning.
“When we condemn the racist venom coming from the President’s mouth and point out the bigotry of his policies, it’s not an academic question, it’s not a political game, it’s about life and death.”
Legend was raised in Springfield, Ohio.
It’s just 25 miles northeast of Dayton, where Connor Betts, 24, reportedly used a .223 caliber long gun to fatally shoot at least nine people.
One of the victims included his own sister, Megan Betts.
The Dayton shooting occurred less than 14 hours after a man identified by police as Patrick Crusius, 21, opened fire with an AK-47 inside a Walmart in the Cielo Vista Mall in West El Paso.
20 people died leaving another 26 injured.
Authorities said Crusius appears to be the author of a racist, anti-Hispanic immigrant manifesto that was uploaded to 8Chan shortly before the shooting.
The LA Times reports a Twitter account shut down on Saturday that appeared to belong to Crusius had praised Trump.
Legend noted that Trump’s politics seem to be a common thread among a growing crop of criminals, murderers and mass killers, many of whom have espoused white nationalist views.
The singer also took issue with the apparent easy access to high-capacity firearms supported by Trump and conservative members of the GOP.
‘My heart aches for El Paso and Dayton,’ Legend wrote in a separate Tweet. ‘Our nation is experiencing these traumas far too often and we need our leaders to take urgent action: take these weapons of war off the street and fight the evil ideology of white nationalism that motivates many of these terrorists.’
Comments
Loading…