UN raises rare racism alarm in the US after Trump’s response to Charlottesville attack

The United Nations has raised a rare racism alarm in the US as it called on American President Donald Trump to ‘unequivocally’ condemn racist speech and crimes warning that failure to do so may give room to further violence.

The rare “early warning and urgent action” statement, which is reserved for serious situations, was issued by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) on Wednesday.

Trump has been under constant condemnation after he blamed “both sides” for violence that broke out at a rally, organised by neo-Nazis and white supremacists, in Charlottesville, Virginia earlier this month.

Read also: Police clash with anti-Trump protesters in Phoenix over white supremacist violence

Yesterday, security operatives in the city of Phoenix, Arizona had a torrid time coping with a crowd of people following clashes as police fired tear gas and stun grenades at protesters in Arizona who were demonstrating against Trump.

Reports say the incident occurred outside the downtown Phoenix Convention Center where Trump had just wrapped up his speech at a campaign-style rally for supporters- his first event since white supremacist violence in Charlottesville.

Police claimed protesters threw rocks and bottles at shielded officers, who were armed with batons as a cloudy haze enveloped the night sky with people fleeing the scene as protesters and police clashed.

Reports say Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton had unsuccessfully called on the president to not hold the rally so soon after the trouble in Charlottesville.

 

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