Gun reform urged
US president receives mixed reaction in mourning Texas city
Protesters blame his rhetoric against immigrants, shouting ‘do something’
US President Donald Trump met on Wednesday with elected officials, first responders and victims of the deadly mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas, as protesters blamed his rhetoric on immigration for stoking racial animosity.
He traveled to Dayton first, visiting Miami Valley Hospital. He went room to room to meet shooting victims who were treated after gunman Connor Betts carried out a massacre that killed nine people and injured 27 others at a bar early on Sunday. Betts was killed by responding police.
Trump offered condolences and thanked first responders, but he stayed out of public sight. He later described his visit as “warm and wonderful” and released pictures and video with nurses, doctors and patients.
Around 200 protesters were outside the Ohio hospital, The Associated Press reported. Others lined the streets in the Oregon District near the bar where the shooting took place.
Protesters held anti-Trump signs that read: “We can end gun violence” and “No gun no trigger”, and “Not welcome here”. They also yelled “Do something!”, which has become a rallying cry.
Police stood in front of Trump supporters who were standing alongside protesters holding blue banners with the words “Trump 2020” along with “Keep America Great”.
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, a Democrat, said she spoke with Trump after he stepped off Air Force One about “red flag” laws, referring to legislation that would prohibit firearms possession by people who display signs of being a threat.
“I think he heard me,” she said. “We spoke directly about commonsense gun legislation,” she told reporters at the hospital. “I think it was a good decision for him not to stop in the Oregon District.”
US Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, said he urged Trump to call Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring the Senate back from recess and asked Trump to pledge to sign a background-check bill.
“We can’t get anything done in the Senate because Mitch McConnell and President Trump are in bed with the gun lobby,” Brown said.
“I said, ‘Respectfully, Mr President, the most important thing you can do for these police officers is take these assault weapons off the streets.’ I’m very concerned about a president that divides using racist rhetoric.”
Trump later took to Twitter to criticize Whaley and Brown.
Lynell Graham, an Ohio resident, turned up to protest, telling CNN: “I did not think that this is a place where Trump should come for a photo op on dead people. He’s not sincere on gun reform. … We did not want him here! We will keep standing up against his hateful rhetoric.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Trump and first lady Melania Trump flew to El Paso, where protesters and Trump supporters wearing red MAGA hats stood outside the Walmart where the shooting took place.
Trump headed to the University Medical Center of El Paso to meet with more than two dozen people injured in the gun violence and with members of law enforcement.
US Representative Veronica Escobar, a Texas Democrat whose district includes El Paso, declined a White House invitation to meet Trump.
“The president can have a country divided by hate and racism or embrace every human being with the dignity they deserve,” she told CNN.
An open letter to Trump on Wednesday in the El Paso Times described the border city as having “a deep tradition of racial harmony” whose people came together after the tragedy. It admonished Trump for calling El Paso one of the country’s most dangerous cities in his February State of the Union address.
“He’s going to make war between us. Racism is starting to pop up more and more. Mexican people are fed up. He’s going to create chaos around here,” said Fernando Montoya, 45, who joined the protesters assembled at the park.
“This is not a political visit,” El Paso Mayor Dee Margo, a Republican, told reporters. “He is president of the United States. So in that capacity, I will fulfill my obligations as mayor of El Paso to meet with the president and discuss whatever our needs are in this community.”
I did not think that this is a place where Trump should come for a photo op on dead people. He’s not sincere on gun reform. … We did not want him here! We will keep standing up against his hateful rhetoric.” Lynell Graham, Ohio resident