No comment on preponderance of white victims of black criminals; disturbed that the Jena Six assailants were prosecuted.
President Bush warned yesterday that the United States is at risk of losing sight of past racial suffering, describing recent displays of nooses and jokes about lynching as “deeply offensive” in a speech to a largely African American audience invited to the White House.
Responding to news coverage of such episodes since the “Jena Six” case in Louisiana last fall, Bush said: “These disturbing reports have resulted in heightened racial tensions in many communities. They have revealed that some Americans do not understand why the sight of a noose causes such a visceral reaction among so many people.*”
The comments injected a note of sobriety into a largely festive gathering in the East Room to celebrate Black History Month that included a performance by the Motown group the Temptations. Among those present were several prominent African Americans who have not been shy about criticizing Bush’s policies on affirmative action and other racial issues.
“This is a very strong statement,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who was recognized by Bush from the dais. “I wish that he would add legislation to it, but I am glad that he has finally addressed this issue.”
Bush’s relations with the African American community have been tense throughout his presidency, but he has tried to mend fences in recent years. He appeared before the NAACP in 2006 after shunning the group his first five years in office.
*President Bush once joked about not being able to find those ‘pesky’ weapons of mass destruction, attacked a sovereign country that was unable to harm the US, and oversaw the hanging of former ally Saddam Hussein.