New Delhi: Singer and pop star Taylor Swift lashed out at US President Donald Trump Friday over the riots in Minneapolis, Minnesota, accusing him of “stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism” for the length of his presidency.
In a now viral tweet, Swift called out Trump, saying, “After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence? ‘When the looting starts the shooting starts’??? We will vote you out in November. @realdonaldtrump”
After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence? ‘When the looting starts the shooting starts’??? We will vote you out in November. @realdonaldtrump
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) May 29, 2020
Swift was referring to a controversial tweet put out by Trump hours earlier, in which he called those protesting the death of a black man, George Floyd, by police brutality “thugs” who were “dishonouring” his memory.
Floyd, a 46-year-old man, was arrested by officers in Minneapolis for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 dollar note. The officers pinned him to the ground and kneeled on his neck despite him repeatedly telling them, “I can’t breathe.”
He died soon thereafter, sparking days of protest in the city which turned violent, with reports of arson and widespread shooting.
On the protests, Trump wrote, “These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!”
….These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
Also read: Indians who support Kapil Mishra are saying #BlackLivesMatter. Let that sink in
Police brutality in the US
Trump’s response to Floyd’s arrest and the subsequent riots has been criticised for being tone-deaf, and even prompted Twitter to flag the his tweet, saying it violated the company’s regulations by “glorifying violence”. As part of its regulations, the tweet cannot be commented on or liked.
The killing of Floyd has opened up old wounds of police brutality and hate crimes against people of colour in the US. According to The Washington Post, black people accounted for 23 per cent of the people killed by law enforcement in the country in 2019.
Also read: Trump unleashing fury at Twitter — on Twitter — is only helping its business
Taylor Swift: Just another brainless-wonder.
Cities in this country have had these violent riots for decades. Did she bother to blame Obama for Ferguson or Baltimore???
Protest? I have seen videos of thee protestors rioting , looting shops, shooting each other and burning public building., interestingly most looted shops belonged to the black community , the same commune that people like you pretend to stand up for
Wannabe woke journos like you are the reason thugs are nurtured in the name of protest.