Trump attends civil rights museum opening; black leaders stay away
JACKSON  Miss. (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump flew to Mississippi on Saturday to attend the opening of a civil rights museum  but his visit was marred by the absence of top African-American leaders who stayed away in protest of his policies and record on race relations.
 Trump  toured the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and delivered brief remarks  paying tribute to African-Americans who fought institutionalized racism  including Medgar Evers  the civil rights activist who was murdered outside his home in Jackson in 1963.
âWe want our country to be a place where every child from every background can grow up free from fear  innocent of hatred and surrounded by love  opportunity and hope â  Trump  said in prepared remarks.
Referring to Evers and other civil rights leaders showcased in the museum   Trump  said: âToday we strive to be worthy of their sacrifice. We pray for inspiration from their example.â
 Trump  acknowledged Eversâ wife Myrlie and brother Charles in the audience.
 U.S. President Donald Trump  visits the Civil Rights Museum in Jackson  Mississippi  U.S. December 9  2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
The two men also cited Trumpâs âdisparaging comments about women  the disabled  immigrants and National Football League playersâ and said  the president  had shown disrespect to those who fought for civil rights in Mississippi.
However  U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson  who is black and ran against  Trump  in the early 2016 Republican presidential primaries before dropping out  accompanied  the president  on  his  tour of the museum.
In August   Trump  unleashed a firestorm of criticism  including from Republicans and a top adviser in  his  administration  for saying that both left- and right-wing protesters were at fault for violence at a white supremacist-led rally in Charlottesville  Virginia  where one woman died.
White House spokesman Raj Shah said on Friday ahead of the visit that the civil rights movement was about fighting intolerance  hatred and bigotry and that  Trump  intended to honor the leaders of that struggle.
 Trump  concluded his remarks by saying: âToday we pay solemn tribute to our heroes of the past and dedicate ourselves to building a future of freedom  equality justice and peace.â
JACKSON  Miss. (Reuters) - U.S. President  [TGT]  flew to Mississippi on Saturday to attend the opening of a civil rights museum  but his visit was marred by the absence of top African-American leaders who stayed away in protest of his policies and record on race relations.
 Trump  toured the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and delivered brief remarks  paying tribute to African-Americans who fought institutionalized racism  including Medgar Evers  the civil rights activist who was murdered outside his home in Jackson in 1963.
âWe want our country to be a place where every child from every background can grow up free from fear  innocent of hatred and surrounded by love  opportunity and hope â  Trump  said in prepared remarks.
Referring to Evers and other civil rights leaders showcased in the museum   Trump  said: âToday we strive to be worthy of their sacrifice. We pray for inspiration from their example.â
 Trump  acknowledged Eversâ wife Myrlie and brother Charles in the audience.
 U.S. President  [TGT]   visits the Civil Rights Museum in Jackson  Mississippi  U.S. December 9  2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
The two men also cited Trumpâs âdisparaging comments about women  the disabled  immigrants and National Football League playersâ and said  the president  had shown disrespect to those who fought for civil rights in Mississippi.
However  U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson  who is black and ran against  Trump  in the early 2016 Republican presidential primaries before dropping out  accompanied  the president  on  his  tour of the museum.
In August   Trump  unleashed a firestorm of criticism  including from Republicans and a top adviser in  his  administration  for saying that both left- and right-wing protesters were at fault for violence at a white supremacist-led rally in Charlottesville  Virginia  where one woman died.
White House spokesman Raj Shah said on Friday ahead of the visit that the civil rights movement was about fighting intolerance  hatred and bigotry and that  Trump  intended to honor the leaders of that struggle.
 Trump  concluded his remarks by saying: âToday we pay solemn tribute to our heroes of the past and dedicate ourselves to building a future of freedom  equality justice and peace.â