President’s visit to El Paso met with chorus of protests
EL PASO — Four days after a gunman killed 22 people and wounded more than two dozen in a Walmart in El Paso, President Donald Trump’s visit to the city was met with a chorus of protesters.
Several held up signs with messages including “Pres. Trump Not Welcome Here,” “El Paso 80% Brown — Strong,” and “Trump you are the accomplice of the 8/3/19 Attack, you are not welcomed.”
Trump supporters also lined the street near University Medical Center ahead of the arrival of the president’s motorcade and at times got into screaming matches with the protesters. Police in riot gear kept watch.
The president and first lady had traveled
to the city to thank first responders and meet some of the 26 people wounded in the shooting.
El Paso is in mourning and was on edge during the president’s stop in the border city.
“The wall is not a national emergency. The real national emergency is domestic terrorism,” El Paso resident Javier Paz said. The FBI is investigating Saturday’s attack as a case of domestic terrorism.
Paz was among hundreds of protesters who gathered at a rally in a park near the hospital to remember the victims killed by the suspected gunman, who drove from the Dallas area to carry out a racially motivated attack targeting Hispanics, according to police.
Priscilla Perez of Las Cruces said she participated in the rally “because of the color of my skin, because of the people I represent, because of my family, because of the injustice.”
“After the horror of Saturday, we felt compelled to show our support for the community we live in and love,” said Ron Stallworth, author of “Black Klansman,” who attended the rally with his wife, Patsy.
In the book, Stallworth details his work as an undercover police officer in Colorado investigating the Ku Klux Klan and leader David Duke.
“What I experienced 40 years ago with David Duke has found a resurgence in Donald Trump,” Stallworth said. He and others blame the president’s rhetoric about Mexicans, immigrants and minorities for inspiring hate crimes.
“That is what’s really shocking and scary about this whole thing,” Stallworth said. His wife, Patsy, said that if she had the opportunity to meet the president, she would tell him, “Enough, enough, Mr. Trump.”
But Trump supporters bristled when they heard comments blaming the president for inspiring violence or racially motivated attacks.
“They’re lying. The hatred predates Trump. Let’s go back to Columbine,” said El Paso resident George Norris. A mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, in which 12 students, a teacher and the two student shooters were killed, occurred in 1999 during the Clinton administration.
Norris was among Trump supporters who welcomed the president’s visit.
“I believe it’s my civic duty to support the president,” said Norris, who wore a red “Make America Great Again” hat.
Another said he supports the president’s description of the border and immigrants.
“Trump uses the word ‘invasion.’ We’re being invaded on our southern border. I don’t care what anybody says,” John Dornan said.
A manifesto believed to have been posted by the alleged El Paso gunman shortly before the attack used the word “invasion.”
Nancy Sharp, 74, and four friends from Las Cruces traveled to El Paso to protest the president’s visit.
“I’ve had enough. And I will continue to come until we don’t have this racist president,” Sharp said.
This week, Trump denounced racism, bigotry and white supremacy in a televised address to the nation. El Paso resident Paz said it was a positive step.
“Now actually do something about white supremacy,” Paz said. “Stop your rhetoric, first of all; take responsibility for it.”