The Mississippi Association of County Democratic Chairs and the Hinds County Democratic Party on Tuesday tore into Donald Trump’s planned participation at the opening ceremony for the state’s Civil Rights Museum, calling the president “an abominable human being.”
“Yesterday, we learned with great dismay that the President will participate in the opening ceremonies of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum this Saturday,” the joint statement reads. “As the direct political heirs to the Freedom Democratic Party and in the spirit of Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer, we call upon all the authorities involved to cancel any appearance and remarks by President Donald Trump immediately.”
“Any reasonable person knows that the presence of such a hugely divisive and polarizing figure will pervert and diminish what could otherwise be a healing and teaching moment for our state,” the statement continues. “Mr. Trump attained to the highest office in the land by appeals and tactics that do great and lasting violence to our civil rights heritage. His campaign appealed to the very worst demons of the American soul. He is a disgraceful president, a malicious influence, and an abominable human being.”
“He has no place at a celebration of the very values and aspirations his presidency is clearly committed to destroy,” it adds. "Mr. President, leave Mississippi alone. We have had far too much experience with your kind already.”
The statement comes as the NAACP Tuesday said Trump is not worthy of attending the event.
“President Trump’s statements and policies regarding the protection and enforcement of civil rights have been abysmal, and his attendance is an affront to the veterans of the civil rights movement,” NAACP president Derrick Johnson said in a statement. “He has created a commission to reinforce voter suppression, refused to denounce white supremacists, and overall, has created a racially hostile climate in this nation.”
“As a freedom fighter and contemporary of Emmett Till, Trump’s visit is an insult.” NAACP board member Amos Brown likewise added. “He has never been a supporter of civil rights or equal opportunity or justice.”