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Trump met with protesters at opening of Civil Rights Museum

The first official state-sponsored Civil Rights Museum opened on Saturday and U.S. President Donald Trump attending and delivered a speech at the opening.

Trump's arrival was met with protesters outside the museum, boycotting the president's visit.

Congressman John Lewis fought for civil rights in the 1960's and stated he would not attend the opening if President Trump was attending.

“After careful consideration and conversations with church leaders, elected officials, civil rights activists, and many citizens of our congressional districts, we have decided not to attend or participate in the opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum," stated Congressman John Lewis.

After Newtown, after Aurora, after Charleston and Orlando and now Las Vegas, how many more must die? A hundred? A thousand? Ten thousand? A million? What is your blood price? How many more must die? How many mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives? Tell us! What is the number??? How many dead bodies will it take to wake up this Congress? But there is no number, is there? There is no amount of blood or pain or death or suffering that will move this Congress to act. We hold moments of silence and vigils, we offer our thoughts and prayers, but it’s all a show, a placeholder until people forget and this Congress can move on to rolling back restrictions on silencers or making it easier for the mentally ill to purchase weapons. Don’t tell me otherwise. I’ve been around too long. I lost colleagues in Mississippi and Alabama to gun violence. I lost Dr. King to a man with a rifle. I lost Robert Kennedy to a man with a handgun. I have seen too many gun deaths and I am here to say right now – THIS MUST STOP. We were elected to lead. Have courage. Have the raw courage to make a down-payment on ending gun violence in America. We can no longer wait. We can no longer be patient. If this were a fire, we would bring water. If this were a virus, we would send medicine. If this were a storm, we would give shelter. But this is about guns, and so, once more, this Congress does nothing. Don’t tell me we need mental health reform when you won’t provide every American access to mental health care. Don’t tell me this is about protecting the second Amendment when you won’t stand up for the first Amendment. Don’t tell me this is about anything other than greed and money and fear. Have courage. Be unafraid. Do your job and bring common sense gun control legislation to a vote.

A post shared by John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) on

Lewis is known as one of the "Big Six" leaders of groups who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington.

Lewis said that Trump shouldn't attend because of his list of "disparaging comments"about women, people with disabilities, immigrants and his response to many players in the National Football League.

The Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Chokwe A. Lumumb said he will not share a stage with the US President.

On Saturday morning, members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), held a press conference in Jackson, Mississippi without Trump and recognized those who had dedicated their lives to fighting for civil rights.

“We take this stand out of respect for our heroes and ancestors who, often at the cost of their lives, paved the way for the ending of segregation and racial discrimination in Mississippi,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO.

Communications for the US Administration, Sarah Huckabee has stated that event will bring the country together.



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