Africans, Haitians stage protest against Trump over vulgar remark

Africans are hitting the streets of the US today, January 15, to protest against President Trump’s vulgar remarks about African nations 

  - The protest tagged ‘Rally against Trump’ is also planned to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr. - Trump had earlier allegedly referred to Haiti and other African nations as ‘shithole countries’ Africans in the diaspora would join Haitians, and El-Salvadorians in rallies to protest against US President Donald Trump’s alleged racist remarks. The rallies would begin on Monday, January 15, in major cities, including New Jersey, Atlanta, and Houston. Recall that Trump was reported to have branded Haiti, El Salvador and unspecified African nations as “shithole countries”. The organisers of the event urged all people of African descent and others to attend the rally to “reject the denigration President Trump uttered against us”. 
The US president reportedly made the comment during a meeting with congressional leaders in the Oval Office on Thursday, January 11. “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” Trump allegedly said after being presented with a proposal to restore protections for immigrants from the countries in question. The protest tagged: ‘Rally against Trump’ at Time Square on Monday, January 15, would commemorate the Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which celebrates the death of the civil rights icon. The Day is a federal holiday in the US falling on the third Monday of every January and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of King, who was tragically assassinated on April 4, 1968
In response to the comments made by President Trump on Thursday about countries including Africa and Haiti, please Join Mayor Bill de Blasio in denouncing Trump at a rally at Time Square on Monday. “On MLK Day, New York City will take a stand for our sisters and brothers from Haiti, throughout Africa, El Salvador and other nations in the diaspora that have become targets of President Trump’s hatred and bigotry. “This moment is too critically important for us not to come together. “Let’s honour Dr King’s birthday by showing the world the progress being made to help achieve his dream,” Famod Konneh, Bronx Borough Director, New York City Office of the Mayor, said. However, Trump had, while signing the proclamation for King’s Day on Wednesday, January 10, said the late civil rights leader “dedicated his life to a vision: that all Americans would live free from injustice and enjoy equal opportunity as children of God”. “His strong, peaceful, and lifelong crusade against segregation and discrimination brought our Nation closer to the founding ideals set forth in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. “Today, as we come together to honour Dr King, we know that America is stronger, more just, and more free because of his life and work,” Trump said. 

The group of over 50 nations in a statement said: “The AU mission condemns the statement in the strongest terms and demands a retraction of the comment as well as an apology to not only the Africans but to all people of African descent across the globe.” 
The African Union demands the US president apologizes, expressing their "shock, dismay and outrage" at the "clearly racist" remarks.
The UN human rights spokesman, Rupert Colville, told a Geneva news briefing: "There is no other word one can use but racist. You cannot dismiss entire countries and continents as 'shitholes'."
Both Ghana and South Africa have summoned US diplomatic officials in shows of protest.
In Accra, US ambassador to Ghana Robert Porter Jackson is meeting President Nana Akufo-Addo on Monday. While in South Africa, the foreign office has summoned the deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in the capital, Pretoria.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) accused the president of falling "deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole of racism and xenophobia".

Several Democratic representatives have said they intend to skip the president's State of the Union address later this month over the comments, accusing the president of racism.


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