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"The commemoration of the birth of this nation and its democracy will be unduly tarnished with the participation of the President, who continues to make degrading comments to minority leaders, to enact policies harmful to marginalized communities and to use racist and xenophobic rhetoric, "Virginia said the black legislative caucus said in a
statement Monday.The boycott of the caucus and other Democrats in Virginia comes as Trump continues his attacks on colored personalities. Over the weekend, Trump attacked Maryland's representative, Elijah Cummings, claiming that his district of Baltimore was "a disgusting mess, infested with rats and rodents." Earlier this month, Trump – in racist language that was later condemned by a House resolution – called on four progressive Democratic women in Congress to "go back and help fix the totally devastated places and infested with the crimes that caused them. " Three of the four are born in the United States and the fourth is a naturalized American citizen.
Virginia's Black Legislative Caucus said that "Trump's repeated attacks on black lawmakers and his comments on black communities make it hard for him to honor and commemorate such a monumental period in history."
"The VLBC will not conscientiously sit down and support its inclusion in this event.It is impossible to ignore the emblem of the hatred and disdain that the President represents," said the 20 caucus members, adding that "those who have chosen to attend and remain silent are complicit in the atrocities it incites."
Trump Tuesday appeared unhampered by boycotts, downplaying him as "a solution".
"It's good. I think if that were the case, I would be shocked, but if that is the case, they are fighting against their people, because African Americans have called the White House. They have never been so happy what the president has done, "Trump said before leaving for Virginia, adding," So it is possible for two politicians to be boycotted, but all is correct. All is correct. The fact is that African Americans love work because I work for them. "
After local reports that Trump would participate in Tuesday's events in Jamestown, leading Democrats in the state legislature announced on July 19 that they "will not participate in any part of the commemorative session at which Donald Trump will be present ".
"The current president does not represent the values we would celebrate on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the oldest democratic body in the western world," said the two House and Senate leaders, as well as two Democratic caucus presidents. .
declaration.
"We only offer three words to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation:" Send it back, "" they wrote, evoking the song that erupted at a Trump North Carolina rally targeting the representative Minnesota Democrat, Ilhan Omar.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, a Democrat, helped invite Trump to attend the commemorative events, confirmed in a 2019 Commemoration release, American Evolution, the event's steering committee. The group said Northam, along with Virginia House President Kirk Cox and Republican Leader Tommy Norment, both Republicans, had also invited Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to join her. but she had refused.
Norment, in a statement of July 20, describes as "disappointing and embarrbading" the decision of state democrats to boycott events.
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney also resigned from the committee following the decision to invite Trump, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
"A president who qualifies those who disagree with him to be anti-American and ignorantly advocates that duly elected women of the Congress, American citizens of color, be sent back to their home country." "No place at this commemorative rally held in our Commonwealth this weekend.," Stoney wrote in a letter of resignation, the Times-Dispatch reported.
Virginia's Lieutenant Governor, Justin Fairfax, the most prominent black politician of the state, will be present.
"The celebration of the birth of democracy in America and the honor of walking in the footsteps of my slave ancestors as a state-wide elected party far outweigh the actions petty and racist of the current occupant of the White House, "wrote Fairfax in a Medium article on July 21.
Trump is due to deliver a speech before the joint session of the Virginia Legislature on Tuesday after his visit to the historic Jamestown Settlement.
The Black Legislative Caucus of Virginia also announced Monday that it had organized alternative events to mark the 400th anniversary, including a historic commemoration of the first documented arrival of slaves in Virginia.
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