The Rev. Al Sharpton criticized President Donald Trump in a keynote address at a Juneteenth celebration in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a white mob destroyed the “Black Wall Street” in 1921.
Trump had initially planned a campaign rally in Tulsa on Friday but later rescheduled to Saturday after learning about the significance of the holiday.
“The president said he was coming on June 19,” Sharpton said to boos from the audience, which were watching in the rain, and slammed the president for admitting he did not know about Juneteenth.
Trump issued a statement Friday honoring the “indomitable spirit of African Americans” as the nation celebrates Juneteenth, which commemorates the ending of slavery.
Juneteenth is a state or ceremonial holiday in 47 states and Washington, D.C., and is being marked by peaceful demonstrations, rallies and celebrations. This year, it is playing out against a backdrop of nationwide protests, marches and legal action following the death of George Floyd during an arrest by a white police officer in Minneapolis last month.
A closer look at some recent developments:
Breonna Taylor’s death: Louisville police is firing officer Brett Hankison, one of three officers to fire weapons at her apartment. Taylor was shot eight times and died.
Rayshard Brooks’ funeral will be held Tuesday at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Thursday, police officers called out sick to protest the firing of Garrett Rolfe, the officer who shot him.
