PRESIDENT TRUMP INCITES VIOLENCE AS HE REFUSES TO ACCEPT ELECTION RESULTS
7 January 2021
Amnesty International USA
Getty Images
In his speech, subsequent audio recording and tweets, President Trump continued to reject the U.S. election results and incite his supporters —leading thousands to storm and breach the U.S. Capitol. In response, Amnesty International USA Interim Executive Director Bob Goodfellow issued the below statement:
“President Trump’s refusal to facilitate a peaceful transfer of power has put human rights, public safety and the rule of law at grave risk in the United States. The President’s embrace of white supremacist groups and extremists has further fanned the flames of the chaos and violence we witnessed today. All U.S. officials must respect, protect, and fulfill human rights, including the right to be free from violence, intimidation, and racism.
“Amnesty International works for a world where all those in power respect the law, meet their human rights obligations, and are held to account when failing to do so. Across the world, we have witnessed the dire consequences of government officials who spread false information and incite racist or political violence to stay in power. The world is watching, and so are our more than 10 million supporters and members.
“This is a moment of reckoning for the United States. President Trump has repeatedly encouraged violence and disorder by his supporters. These are not the actions of a leader, but an instigator. All public officials must condemn the President’s words.”
Background and context
Amnesty International USA is monitoring the situation and is deeply troubled by what is occurring in the country. The organization is calling on the President to deescalate, not add to, the climate of fear, uncertainty, and turmoil. The human rights organization is also calling on the President and his administration to ensure that they are disseminating reliable and trustworthy information, countering false and misleading information, and doing everything in their power to prevent and condemn attacks and intimidation.
Media contact: Mariya Parodi, media@aiusa.org
