Washington, June 16 (RHC)-- U.S. President Donald Trump didn't know the significance to Black Americans of the date and location he chose for his first campaign rally since the coronavirus pandemic more than three months ago, key Republican supporters of the president in Congress have said.
Trump had scheduled the rally for June 19, known as Juneteenth because it marks the end of slavery in the United States. Tulsa, Oklahoma, the location for the rally, was the scene in 1921 of one of the most severe white racist attacks in American history.
Black community and political leaders denounced the move and called on Trump to reschedule. He resisted until late Friday when, in a rare turnabout, Trump tweeted that he had moved the rally to this Saturday, June 20, out of respect for the view of supporters and others who had asked him to.
"The president moving the date by a day once he was informed on what the Juneteenth was, that was a good decision on his part," said Senator Tim Scott, the only Black Republican senator, adding he didn't know if Trump's planners knew the significance of the date.