KENOSHA: US President Donald Trump decried violence at recent racial justice protests as “domestic terror” while denying there is systemic racism within US law enforcement during a visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Trump arrived in the city on Tuesday, where protests have continued since police shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back during an encounter on 23 August.
Local officials and members of Blake’s family had requested that Trump stay away for fear he would further inflame the situation, which has at times turned violent with property damage and two protesters killed last week.
“We don’t need more pain and division from a president set on advancing his campaign at the expense of our city,” Justin Blake, an uncle, said in a statement as the family of Jacob Blake, who was paralysed as a result of the shooting, held a “community celebration” during Trump’s visit. “We need justice and relief for our vibrant community”
Charred remains
Trump toured the charred remains of a block besieged by violence and fire and spoke to the owners of a century-old furniture store that had been destroyed.
While meeting with local law enforcement, he blasted Democrats for what he described as enabling the violence and again took credit for deploying the US National Guard to the city, even though Wisconsin’s governor activated the troops and sought reinforcements from other state forces without the involvement of the federal government.
“These are not acts of peaceful protests, but really domestic terror,” Trump said during a roundtable with law enforcement, referring to objects being thrown at police officers and property damage.
“Reckless far-left politicians continue to push the destructive message that our nation or our law enforcement are oppressive or racist, they’ll throw out any word that comes to them,” he added.
Political gain
Joe Biden, Trump’s Democratic opponent in the November election, has accused the president of stoking tensions for political gain and trying to draw attention away from the coronavirus.
“Fires are burning. We have a president who fanned the flames, rather than fighting the flames,” Biden said during a visit to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, amid his return to the campaign trail on Monday.