The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Lamont: Trump would save Confederate monuments over the Statue of Liberty
Gov. Ned Lamont, speaking in Manchester Wednesday following an encounter in which three Black teens on bikes were harassed and chased by two white men, made his strongest statement yet about the racist signaling and enabling by President Donald Trump.
“We need a president of the United States who also is willing to stand up,” an emotional Lamont said during a news conference with local officials. “We need a president of the United States, my God, sometimes I think he’s willing to stand up for those Confederate statues, but he wouldn’t lose any sleep if the Statue of Liberty was knocked off her pedestal.”
State and local officials spoke Wednesday, many of them with strong emotion, about the need for community unity on racial issues. Some talked about reforms in an upcoming special session of the state General Assembly, in which Senate Democrats will propose sweeping legislation aimed at civil, criminal and economic justice.
Lamont, however, worked to lower expectations of that session, which could happen this month.
“It’s going to be a short session in the middle of the COVID crisis. I’m not sure how much we can get done,” he said.
Two men were arrested last week in connection with the in
cident in Manchester on June 21, in which the men were alleged to have yelled racial slurs and nearly hit one of the youths with a vehicle. NBC Connecticut quoted a woman who said she was the fiancee of one of the men, and that they believe in the principles of Black Lives Matter.
Lt. Gov Susan Bysiewicz cited seven racial incidents reported in Connecticut
since June 1. She also apparently criticized Trump, though not by name.
“The governor and I are sickened and saddened by these acts of hatred and violence,” Bysiewicz said. “We call upon every person in our beautiful state to treat every other person with respect and dignity and kindness.”
She added, “We believe it is important to be role models especially since leaders at the highest levels of our government encourage racism and intolerance.”
Trump, in a tweet just before midnight Tuesday night, threatened to veto the U.S. military budget authorization bill if it comes to his desk with a requirement that miltary bases named for Confederate figures be renamed. Some leading Republicans have broken with the president on that issue.
Lamont urged a no-tolerance policy on racial intolerance or racially charged humor.
“When you see something say something,” Lamont
said. “If it’s the littlest thing, if it’s that small joke that has racial overtones, don’t just let it go. Don’t let somebody say ‘Oh, you’re just being politically correct.’ Say, ‘No, this is so contrary to everything that makes America special.’”
“We’re a country that respects our diversity, that respects each and every individual. We’re a country that stands up for decency.”