VETERANS ISSUE STARK WARNING: TRUMP'S wilmington RALLY CHOICE ECHOES DARK HISTORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT
Clyde Gunter
VETERANS ISSUE STARK WARNING: TRUMP'S WILMINGTON RALLY CHOICE ECHOES DARK HISTORY
WILMINGTON, NC – As veterans and members of Common Defense, the nation’s largest grassroots veteran organization, we are dedicated to upholding democratic values. We are deeply concerned by President Donald Trump's decision to hold a campaign rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Wilmington has a painful historical legacy as the site of the only successful overthrow of a democratically elected government in U.S. history.
The selection of Wilmington as a rally site by former President Trump is deeply troubling, particularly in light of his efforts to undermine democratic norms and fuel societal division. This decision serves as a poignant reminder of the crucial historical context of Wilmington. In the late 1800s, North Carolina experienced a significant political shift known as Fusion Politics, wherein marginalized communities of color and white citizens joined forces to create a formidable electoral coalition. Fusion candidates achieved notable victories, including winning key governmental positions and gaining control of Wilmington, then the state's largest urban center. However, this movement faced opposition from wealthy North Carolina elites who encouraged and bankrolled white supremacist groups to sow fear and discord. The tragic climax of this campaign was the 1898 Wilmington Massacre, the bloody overthrow of the elected government of the city of Wilmington, with a still unknown death toll estimated by historians to be anywhere between several dozen and several hundred citizens murdered. Common Defense calls upon the public to reflect on this dark episode as a stark reminder of the perils of racial animosity and socioeconomic disparities.
As veterans who have sworn to defend the Constitution, we urge all Americans to remember the lessons of history and reject any rhetoric or actions that threaten the foundations of our democracy.
"As an Army veteran who took an oath to uphold the constitution, Trump’s attempted coup on January 6th was horrifying and reminded me of what happened in Wilmington all those years ago. Now, for Trump to come down here to hold a rally in the place where racist extremists overthrew a democratic government is dangerous, but I stand with my fellow veterans in saying this: Trump doesn’t represent me." said Vivian Taylor, North Carolina history writer/resident, Army veteran and Common Defense member
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Common Defense is a grassroots, veteran-led organization founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched power of greedy billionaires who have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props. Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who genuinely share our values. The candidates we endorse reflect our values as an organization, and our member-driven endorsement process ensures that the candidates have grassroots support.