Presumptive Democratic candidate Joe Biden took time during his first joint event with running mate Kamala Harris to recognize Charlottesville’s third anniversary.
“Today is not only the day I’m proud to introduce Senator Harris … it’s also the third anniversary of that horrible day in Charlottesville,” he said.
Hundreds of people came to Charlottesville, Virginia, three years ago today to protest the removal of a Robert E Lee statue. The rally was led by white supremacist and white nationalist organizations, some of which carried Nazi symbolism and spat out anti-Semitic and racist rhetoric.
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Mr. Biden said it was “a wake-up call for all of us as a country” before attacking how President Donald Trump handled the rally.
“For me it was a call to do … at that moment I knew I could not stand and Donald Trump, a man who went on to say … there are very handsome people on both sides “… No president of the United States has ever said such a thing,” he added.
Nancy Pelosi op Biden-Harris ticket
Mr. Trump stood back in support of those present at the rally who were protesting the removal of the Confederate General’s statue because of anti-Semitic and racist remarks made by members of the crowd. But the president stood by his statements by reiterating that there were “fine people” on both sides.
Towards the end of the weekend in August in Charlottesville three years ago, several opponents against the white supremacist groups were wounded. One woman, Heather Heyer, was killed after one of the occupants of a car crashed into a crowd of protesters.
Mr. Biden used the anniversary of the incident in an attempt to show voters how he and Mr. Trump differed, claiming that the president promoted racist rhetoric and worked to divide the nation instead of uniting it.
Another attack by the former vice president came against his opponent when he spoke about Ms Harris.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Mr. Trump called Ms Harris “disgusting” for her question to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during a House hearing. The president often uses the word ‘disgusting’ when describing women with whom he disagrees politically.
“It’s no surprise, because crying is what Donald Trump does best, better than any president in … history,” Mr Biden said of the naming, adding that the president had a problem with ” strong women “.
Mr. Biden also spoke about the attack on the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. As of Wednesday, nearly 165,000 Americans had died from the new virus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
“This president is saying, ‘It’s not my fault. The governors should thank me more.’ As the old saying goes: give me a break, “said Mr. Biden. “Donald Trump is on course … to leave office with the worst job record of any president in modern history.”
The Biden / Harris Ride on Wednesday was the first moment that America saw the running mates together and heard the news that they were ready to deliver in the coming months to encourage voters to support them in the November election.
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