A coalition of civil rights groups planned to hold an event Monday attacking Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for his rhetoric against Mexicans and Muslims, but cancelled it after 50 people were killed and at least 53 more wounded in a reported Islamic terrorist attack Sunday.
The event was supposed to include leaders from several top rights groups including National Council of La Raza and Muslim Advocates, an advocacy group founded by American Muslim lawyers. The groups said in a press release promoting the event they planned to condemn Trump for “demonizing” certain groups and would demand an apology. The event was scheduled to be held at the National Council of La Raza in Washington, D.C.
An email was sent out Sunday saying, “Given the tragedy in Orlando this event has been canceled. Our hearts and prayers are with the families of the victims.”
Shooter Omar Mateen reportedly called 911 to declare his allegiance to Islamic State before opening fire on an Orlando gay nightclub early Sunday morning.
Trump has been the focus of a political firestorm after saying U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel had “an absolute conflict” in the Trump University case because of his Mexican heritage, calling him “a hater of Donald Trump.” Former students of Trump University are suing Trump, alleging the real estate school was a ripoff. Trump has denied their allegations. Curiel is a member of the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association. Trump has also taken fire for his proposed temporary ban on Muslim immigration. After the attack, he took to Twitter to point out that he was right.
Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don’t want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016
“Comments that attempt to divide us based on our ancestry, race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity will cause irreparable harm to our American family and to the future social cohesion of our country,” the groups said in a earlier press release promoting the event.
They added their goal was “to urge Trump and his campaign to repudiate coarse, prejudice-tinged rhetoric, and to issue an apology.”
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