President Donald Trump has decided to reschedule his first rally since the coronavirus emerged from the original date of June 19th to the next day, June 20th, “out of respect” for the Juneteenth holiday according to CNN.
Juneteenth is celebrated because, on June 19, 1865, the Union Army informed people in Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, the enslaved people were now free. Based on the date Trump decided to hold his first rally, especially in light of the recent protests taking place worldwide fighting against police brutality against black people and racial injustice, people have been critical of Trump for planning his return on that date.
In a perceived slap in the face to black people, the rally was also scheduled to take place 99 years after the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 where, in May of 1921, black citizens in Tulsa were massacred at the hands of white mobs in what was known as The Black Wall Street.
The president took to Twitter to announce the rescheduled date:
We had previously scheduled our #MAGA Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for June 19th – a big deal. Unfortunately, however, this would fall on the Juneteenth Holiday. Many of my African American friends and supporters have reached out to suggest that we consider changing the date out…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2020
…of respect for this Holiday, and in observance of this important occasion and all that it represents. I have therefore decided to move our rally to Saturday, June 20th, in order to honor their requests…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2020
The Republican Governor of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt, has also released a statement regarding the changing of the date of the rally. “I am thankful President Trump recognizes the significance of June 19 and has chosen to move his campaign rally out of respect to Oklahomans and the important Juneteenth celebrations.”
I am now looking forward to welcoming @realDonaldTrump to Oklahoma on June 20 and appreciate his decision to change the date of his event. Full statement below
: pic.twitter.com/IrPk2l214D
— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) June 13, 2020
from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/2MTdJYa
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