NABLEO Condemns Disturbing Images Posted By President Trump

The following statement was submitted by Lieut. Charles Wilson, Chairman of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Inc. (NABLEO).

“Recently, Donald Trump, President of the United States, posted a disturbingly graphic image depicting former President and First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama, as monkeys on his Truth Social platform. After a backlash of opinions, and stating that the issue was caused by an unidentified staffer, the images were removed. However, when asked by a reporter if he would apologize for the incident, Trump stated, ‘No, I didn’t make a mistake.’”

“Coming on the cusp of Black History Month, as members of an organization representing men and women of color who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our communities, we must, however, call this incident for what it actually was. It was a deliberate, detestable, selective, and intentional racist act. It was an insult, not only to the Obama’s but to the estimated 48.3 million Black citizens in this country.

“This action actually does not come as a shock. Donald Trump has had a deep-seated animosity towards Barack Obama and his wife for years. Indeed, in the words of Michael Steele, former Chair of the Republican National Committee, ‘This is what Donald Trump thinks about Black People.’ More to the point, one may consider the words of Dr. John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers
Association, when he commented, ‘Targeting a former First Family with such malice is not just an attack on their personal dignity, but an attack on the foundational principles of equality and respect that define our nation.’”

“While it is unlikely that we will receive it, our nation deserves a full, immediate, complete and unequivocal apology for this insult. It is way past time for us to treat this rising tide of racial hostility as the national emergency it truly is. Congress must, as well, put aside it’s imbecilic, and at times questionably unconstitutional compliance to the Presidency, and actively work to develop a workable, actionable strategy to combat institutional racism, monitor online hate speech, and restore a tone of civility and productive dialogue to the national conversation. They may well heed the warning of Dr. Boyd, when he states ‘We have reached a critical juncture where the toxic racial rhetoric is not merely a distraction; it is actively eroding the public trust and hamstringing the efficacy of policies designed to improve healthcare, economic opportunity, and infrastructure.’”

“The nation and indeed the world is watching. The ball is now in your court President Trump.”