Ohio Black Republicans blame media for Charlottesville violence
The Ohio Black Republicans Association is throwing support behind President Donald Trump after a racially motivated protest, and counter-protest, broke out in violence over the weekend.
The Ohio Black Republicans Association is throwing support behind President Donald Trump after a racially motivated protest, and counter-protest, broke out in violence over the weekend.
Over the past several day Pres. Trump has attracted criticism for his reactions to violence in Charlottesville, Virginia that left one woman dead.
On Saturday violence erupted after a protest was held over the planned removal of a confederate statue. Groups being described as "alt-right", "neo-Nazis", and "white supremacists" clashed with those who showed up to protest the demonstration.
O.B.R.A issued a statement Wednesday, after several days of contention, and backlash from media outlets toward the President's reactions.
O.B.R.A's statement, in part, blames the media coverage for the violence that broke out. Part of the statement reads:
"The population of Charlottesville, VA is 46,000 located 100 miles outside of Washington DC and in an
area only 10.4 square miles. If our media had not promoted the scheduled white supremacist rally, it
is our belief the violent activities would not have risen to the level it did and we would not be having
this discussion."
When questioned about the media doing their job to report on what's happening, Tracey Winbush, the president of the association and talk radio show host, said "Are they doing their job to report it or to promote it. There's a fine line there. Are they talking about the other side? Most people are not bigots, most people are not racists, they may have some ignorant they may have some prejudices, what they're promoting and talking about right now and and how we're painting this brush is just wrong."
The distrust of the media continues in the statement, reading: (emphasis was not added, capitalization was part of the statement as sent to 21 News)
"The media talking heads and the hosts that continue to compare and insinuate that President Trump,
the Republican Party and it affiliate’s CONDONE and ENCOURAGE this despicable behavior should
be exposed for the RACE BAITERS that they ARE. They don’t care about THE CONSEQUENCES
OF THEIR STYLE, just that they are the first on the scene with the juiciest story for their 15 minutes
of fame."
The statement from the Ohio Black Republicans Association denounces the violence of the Charlottesville attack, saying: (emphasis was not added, capitalization was part of the statement as sent to 21 News)
"The Ohio Black Republicans Association stands fervently against all bigotry, racism, prejudice,
ignorance and violence. We LOVE OUR COUNTRY, SUPPORT THE PRINCIPLES OF OUR
PARTY AND REVERENCE ALMIGHTY GOD AS OUR SOVEREIGN RULER. WE BELIEVE THAT
"WE THE PEOPLE" INCLUDES EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN AND ADMONISH US ALL TO QUIT
THE NONSENSE OF FIGHTING EACH OTHER. WE IMPLORE ALL AMERICANS TO FIGHT FOR
UNITY IN OUR COUNTRY NOT ENMITY AGAINST EACH OTHER."
On Saturday, President Trump commented saying in part "We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides. On many sides. It's been going on for a long time in our country. Not Donald Trump, not Barack Obama, this has been going on for a long, long time."
Media reports began condemning the President for not calling out the KKK, white supremacists, or neo-Nazi's.
Sunday Trump made a televised statement saying "Racism is evil. And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans."
However, Monday in an unplanned format, the president went toe-to-toe with reporters, saying that there were bad people on both sides and blame to be shared.
The entire statement from the Ohio Black Republicans Association can be read here:
