WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Association of
Social Workers (NASW) is angered by President Trump’s recent racist tweets
aimed at Baltimore and several women of color in Congress. We demand Trump stop
making such comments immediately.
Instead, Trump should behave in a way fitting
of the dignity and gravity of the highest office in the land and unite our
nation to end the racism, poverty and violence that plague not only parts of our
country’s great cities but areas in rural and suburban America.
Trump’s most recent tweets
are just the latest in his long string of racist attacks. For instance, he has
called Haiti and African nations “shithole” countries. He has characterized
Atlanta – a city with a majority black population – as “crime infested.” And he
has said immigrants who come from Latin America will “infest” our nation.
Such comments may energize a
small part of Trump’s base. But the President’s tweets are deplorable and are
causing long-lasting damage to the psyche of our nation.
NASW and the nation’s social
workers have long been committed to ending racism in this nation and the
societal ills that result from racism – including housing discrimination,
poverty and health care and mental health care disparities.
So we demand Trump stop
tweeting for a while and do the real, presidential work of addressing these
societal problems. Action speaks louder than tweets.