President Trump’s verbal abuse and attacks on women in general and black women specifically are dangerous. I refuse to allow Republicans to frame this abuse as “liberals” needing to practice the tolerance they request of others and allow this type of behavior to continue. Women understand how this type of language and rhetoric translates into violence against our bodies — see Heather Heyer.
Yesterday at his rally in Greensboro, Trump not only invoked the language of the Ku Klux Klan by saying, “Love it or leave it,” a popular KKK slogan, but he also led chants for Congresswoman Ilhan Omar to be “sent back,” all of this on the heels of having told four members of Congress including Omar, colloquially referred to as “The Squad” to go back to the countries they came from. Despite the fact that three of the four Congresspeople were born in the United States, the president returned to his popular arsenal of hurling xenophobic, racist and sexist insults at Omar. For those confused about Trump’s comments and why they are considered racist, it is because Trump only invokes the language of the KKK and tells people to go back where they came from who are black or immigrants of color (also see journalists April Ryan and Yamiche Alcindor). I don’t recall him telling Senator Lindsey Graham, Nancy Pelosi or Jim Acosta to “go back to where they came from” when at odds with these folks.
It is clear the president has decided women of color are to be his punching bag during this next presidential cycle. If Trump can’t discern between the fact that the women and many Americans can despise his racist, sexist and elitist policies and still love this country, then that speaks volumes about his inability to think critically or lead all Americans. Women are not required to walk lockstep with President Trump and GOP policies to prove their citizenship or Americanness. “The Squad” has the right to put forth policies and ideas that challenge dominant narratives and traditional practices without being verbally abused and calls for them to “go back where they came from.” Several Democrats and GOP Congress members do not agree with “The Squad’s” proposed policies, but they also aren’t spewing racist, sexist and xenophobic venom in response.
Trump’s verbal attacks and abuse must stop and it is time for the GOP to step in and the Democrats to impeach a president who literally conducts himself as a dictator. His leadership is unethical and immoral and flies in the face of what many consider to be American values.
In response to President Trump’s reckless comments that could cost Rep. Omar her life, the junior Congresswoman quoted the late poet and Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Maya Angelou:
As a black, Muslim woman whose family fled Somalia in order to save their lives, Omar is acutely aware of the danger and damage words like President Trump can inflict on people who want something different from their government and leaders.
A sitting president should not be leading chants to dispose of law-abiding American citizens serving our country in Congress. Literally the lives of women in general and black women specifically are hanging in the balance. Something has to change because our fragile country will not survive another four years of Trumpism and if they start thinking critically, neither will the reign of the GOP.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.
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