This Saturday, President Donald Trump will be in Mississippi to help celebrate the state’s bicentennial with the opening of the Civil Rights and History Museums. During Tuesday’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, confirmed that the President will travel to Jackson to attend the ceremony. In response to a reporter’s question about potential protests of the president’s visit from various civil rights groups, Sanders said she hopes the event will bring people together.
“This is something that should bring the country together and celebrate the opening of this museum and highlight the civil rights movement, and the progress that we’ve made. I would hope that those individuals would join in that celebration instead of protesting it. However, they have every right to protest it.”
The NCAAP is among the groups opposed the Trump’s visit to Mississippi. In a response posted on the organization’s website, Dr. Amos Brown, an NAACP Board member and Jackson Native, called President Trump’s visit an insult.
“As a freedom fighter and contemporary of Emmett Till, Trump’s visit is an insult. He has never been a supporter of civil rights or equal opportunity or justice,” said Dr. Brown. “He’s been silent on civil rights issues, and his silence speaks volumes,” Brown said.
In a tweet, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Mississippi House of Representatives, Greg Snowden says that the President being in attendance is something that all should embrace, regardless of political affiliation.
“Nothing could bring more national attention to the opening of the Museum of Mississippi History and the Civil Rights Museum than an appearance of the President. Embrace it, Mississippians! Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative . . . embrace it!” Snowden posted.
The opening of the museums will take place on Saturday with the ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. in front of the museums. The ceremony is free and open for the public to attend. While tickets are sold out for the museums’ opening weekend, live music and food trucks will also be on the scene. Several other downtown attractions will be open on that day including the old and new Capitol Buildings, the Governor’s Mansion and more.
