James Mattis comes out of his silence. Former Defense Minister Donald Trump, who had resigned to protest the withdrawal of American troops from Syria, accused the President of the United States of trying to "divide" America.
“Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people — does not even pretend to try,” General James Mattis writes in this extraordinary condemnation. https://t.co/3C6vTTz4pd
- The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) June 3, 2020"In my lifetime, Donald Trump is the first president who doesn't try to bring the Americans together, who doesn't even pretend to try," he wrote in a statement posted online Wednesday, June 3 by The Atlantic. "Instead, he is trying to divide us," said the highly respected former general of the Marines, who had so far displayed his reservations.
"I observed the events of this week, angry and dismayed," he continues in this implacable indictment, supporting the demonstrators who claim, according to him "rightly", equal rights.
To be "up to our values"
Since the May 25 death in Minneapolis of George Floyd, a black man asphyxiated by a white police officer, a wave of historic anger has risen in American cities, denouncing racism, police violence and social inequalities. Lootings and riots punctuated the movement with a peaceful departure.
Donald Trump, very silent on his response to the evils denounced by the demonstrators, on the other hand used a martial tone and threatened to resort to the army to subdue the street, presenting himself as "president of law and order".
"We must not be distracted by a handful of outlaws. The demonstrations are tens of thousands of principled people who insist that we live up to our values," said Jim Mattis. "We must reject and hold accountable those in power who mock our Constitution," he added.
With AFP
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