Former US President Barack Obama has
called on Americans to reject language from any of their leaders that feeds
hatred or normalises racism.
Mr Obama did not name anyone but his rare comments came after President Donald
Trump sought to deflect criticism that his anti-immigrant rhetoric had fuelled
violence.
In a speech on Monday, Mr Trump condemned hatred and white supremacy.
He was speaking after 31 people died in mass shootings in Texas and Ohio.
While in office, Mr Obama fought unsuccessfully to restrict gun ownership. He
told the BBC in 2015 that his failure to pass “common sense gun safety
laws” had been the greatest frustration of his presidency.
He has refrained from commenting on Mr Trump’s controversial rhetoric regarding
migrants but on Monday issued a statement.
“We should soundly reject language coming out of the mouths of any of our
leaders that feeds a climate of fear and hatred or normalises racist
sentiments; leaders who demonise those who don’t look like us, or suggest that
other people, including immigrants, threaten our way of life, or refer to other
people as sub-human, or imply that America belongs to just one certain type of
people,” he said.
“It has no place in our politics and our public life. And it’s time for
the overwhelming majority of Americans of goodwill, of every race and faith and
political party, to say as much – clearly and unequivocally.”
During his presidential campaign Mr Trump said Mexican immigrants included drug
dealers, criminals and rapists.
More recently, he caused widespread anger by suggesting that four US
congresswomen of colour “go back and help fix the totally broken and
crime-infested places from which they came”. He denied his comments were
racist.
What did President Trump say?
In a statement from the White House on Monday, Mr Trump called for mental
health gun control reforms; the death penalty for those who commit mass murder
and more bi-partisan co-operation over gun laws.
“Mental illness and hate pull the trigger, not the gun,” Mr Trump
said.
He did not express support for gun control measures proposed in Congress.
“In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white
supremacy,” Mr Trump said. “These sinister ideologies must be
defeated. Hate has no place in America.”
The president also outlined a number of policies, including more co-operation
between government agencies and social media companies, changes to mental
health laws as well as ending the “glorification of violence” in
American culture.
He called for red flag laws that would allow law enforcement authorities to
take away weapons from individuals believed to be a threat to themselves or
others.
Mr Trump said government agencies must work together and identify individuals
who may commit violent acts, prevent their access to firearms and also
suggested involuntary confinement as a way to stop potential attackers.
He also said he directed the justice department to propose legislation to
ensure those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face the death penalty.
The president criticised the internet and “gruesome” video games for
promoting violence in society.
“It is too easy today for troubled youth to surround themselves with a
culture that celebrates violence,” he said. “We must stop or
substantially reduce this and it has to begin immediately.”
But he did not address the criticisms of his own harsh rhetoric against illegal
immigration, which opponents say has contributed to a rise in
racially-motivated attacks.
Mr Trump drew criticism after he incorrectly referred to the Ohio city of
Dayton – where nine people were killed in one of two mass shootings that
occurred just 13 hours apart – as Toledo.
“May God bless the memory of those who perished in Toledo, may God protect
them. May God protect all of those from Texas to Ohio,” he said before
walking off stage.
What happened in Texas and Ohio?
Saturday’s shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, left 22 people dead
and 24 wounded.
The suspect was arrested and has been named as Patrick Crusius, a resident of
the city of Allen, near Dallas. He is believed to be the author of a document
posted online before the shooting which said the attack was “a response to
the Hispanic invasion of Texas”.
Then in the early hours of Sunday, a gunman killed his sister and eight others
in Dayton, Ohio. Twenty-seven others were injured.
The suspect, 24-year-old Connor Betts, was shot dead by police. Officials have
not yet suggested a motive for the attack and police said on Monday it was
unclear whether he had intended to kill his sister.
Source: BBC