Trump Plans Rally at Black Massacre Site on Emancipation Day... "An Insult to Black People"

Campaign Site Tulsa, Oklahoma... 1921 Black Massacre Occurred
June 19, Juneteenth... End of Civil War, Emancipation Proclamation Day
White Vote Consolidation Attempted... Support Rate Falls to 39% in Gallup Poll

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. President Donald Trump (photo) has announced that he will begin his election campaign in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a place with a history of Black people being massacred by white people, sparking widespread controversy.

Despite the predictable backlash from Black communities, analysts suggest that President Trump is employing a racist strategy to rally the white American vote, known as his core support base, ahead of the November presidential election. Contrary to these expectations, over 60% of white Americans reportedly support the racial justice protests triggered by the George Floyd incident, indicating that President Trump's approval ratings are likely to drop significantly.

On the 11th (local time), foreign media including CNN criticized President Trump en masse after he announced that he would hold an election rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on the 19th, emphasizing the historical significance of the date and location. CNN reported, "Resuming the 2020 presidential campaign in a place symbolic of racial discrimination," adding, "The unfortunate end of a sitting president is almost certain."

This is due to the tragedy that occurred in Tulsa in 1921. At that time, members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), a white supremacist group, attacked Black residents in the area, killing over 300 people and burning down more than 1,200 homes. It was the site of the largest Black massacre in the United States. Democratic Senator Kamala Harris condemned the move on Twitter, saying, "This is not just a wink to white supremacists. It's like throwing them a party." Democratic Representative Karen Bass also fiercely criticized it, stating, "It is a disrespect to those who lost their lives in the Tulsa race massacre and an insult to Black people to choose Juneteenth, the day commemorating the emancipation of slaves."

In particular, the rally date of the 19th is Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when the end of the Civil War was declared and the emancipation of Black slaves was announced across the United States, which further fuels anger. President Trump's decision to proceed with the campaign despite the historical significance of the date and location lends credibility to interpretations that this is a strategy to consolidate votes from white supremacist core supporters. The day before, President Trump also reiterated his stance against renaming military bases named after Confederate generals who opposed Black emancipation during the Civil War.

Contrary to expectations of rallying white support, President Trump's approval ratings continue to decline. According to The Washington Post (WP), a Gallup poll released the previous day showed President Trump's approval rating at 39%, falling below 40%. Analysts attribute this to white Americans increasingly recognizing the severity of racial discrimination in the U.S. and a significant rise in support for racial justice protests. A poll by Global Strategy Group (GSG) found that 64% of white Americans support the racial justice protests, and 71% of white respondents believe racial discrimination is a serious issue.

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