Mark Ruffalo joins Michael Moore as he leads his Broadway audience to Trump Tower to protest President Donald Trump on August 15, 2017 in New York City. (Photo: Noam Galai/Getty Images for for DKC/O&M)
Mark Ruffalo, Michael Moore Lead NYC Protest Against 'Absolutely Racist' Trump
"He's allowed fascism, he's allowed the KKK, he's allowed Nazis to show their ugly face, and we're here to remind him there's a cost for that."
On the heels of President Donald Trump's "unhinged" press conference Tuesday, filmmaker Michael Moore arranged for buses to transport the audience of his broadway show "The Terms of My Surrender" to Trump Tower to protest the president's defense of white supremacists and mourn the death of Heather Heyer.
"This guy is not just crazy--he has an agenda, and he's mad that he said what they made him say, and he walked it all back."
--Michael MooreJoining the demonstration was actor and activist Mark Ruffalo, who delivered a speech slamming Trump for enabling and empowering neo-Nazis, whose actions over the weekend culminated in deadly violence.
"We're here today to commemorate a life of an American that was killed by a Nazi on American soil," Ruffalo said. "Let's say her name so Donald Trump can hear what's happened here. He's allowed these people, he's allowed fascism, he's allowed the KKK, he's allowed Nazis to show their ugly face, and we're here to remind him there's a cost for that. Americans have died because of that. Say her name: Heather Heyer."
Watch the speech:
Many characterized Trump's unscripted press conference as a display of the president's "real" views, in contrast to the more measured tone of his speech on Monday, in which Trump specifically denounced white supremacists for the first time.
In his Tuesday remarks, Trump returned to blaming "both sides" for the violence over the weekend while insisting that there were many "good people" among the neo-Nazis who participated in the so-called "Unite the Right" rally on Saturday.
Moore said during Tuesday night's demonstration, which took place alongside the protests that kicked off earlier in the day as Trump returned to New York, that the press conference "really showed me that this guy is not just crazy--he has an agenda, and he's mad that he said what they made him say, and he walked it all back."
In an interview on CNN following the protest, Moore elaborated on his reaction to the president's remarks. When asked by host Don Lemon if he believes Trump is a racist, Moore responded without hesitation.
"He's absolutely a racist," Moore said. "He's not as stupid as people want to believe he is. He knows exactly what he's doing, he knows the words to use."
Moore went on to say "we cannot any longer mealy-mouth about this."
"America has to stand up," he declared.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
On the heels of President Donald Trump's "unhinged" press conference Tuesday, filmmaker Michael Moore arranged for buses to transport the audience of his broadway show "The Terms of My Surrender" to Trump Tower to protest the president's defense of white supremacists and mourn the death of Heather Heyer.
"This guy is not just crazy--he has an agenda, and he's mad that he said what they made him say, and he walked it all back."
--Michael MooreJoining the demonstration was actor and activist Mark Ruffalo, who delivered a speech slamming Trump for enabling and empowering neo-Nazis, whose actions over the weekend culminated in deadly violence.
"We're here today to commemorate a life of an American that was killed by a Nazi on American soil," Ruffalo said. "Let's say her name so Donald Trump can hear what's happened here. He's allowed these people, he's allowed fascism, he's allowed the KKK, he's allowed Nazis to show their ugly face, and we're here to remind him there's a cost for that. Americans have died because of that. Say her name: Heather Heyer."
Watch the speech:
Many characterized Trump's unscripted press conference as a display of the president's "real" views, in contrast to the more measured tone of his speech on Monday, in which Trump specifically denounced white supremacists for the first time.
In his Tuesday remarks, Trump returned to blaming "both sides" for the violence over the weekend while insisting that there were many "good people" among the neo-Nazis who participated in the so-called "Unite the Right" rally on Saturday.
Moore said during Tuesday night's demonstration, which took place alongside the protests that kicked off earlier in the day as Trump returned to New York, that the press conference "really showed me that this guy is not just crazy--he has an agenda, and he's mad that he said what they made him say, and he walked it all back."
In an interview on CNN following the protest, Moore elaborated on his reaction to the president's remarks. When asked by host Don Lemon if he believes Trump is a racist, Moore responded without hesitation.
"He's absolutely a racist," Moore said. "He's not as stupid as people want to believe he is. He knows exactly what he's doing, he knows the words to use."
Moore went on to say "we cannot any longer mealy-mouth about this."
"America has to stand up," he declared.
On the heels of President Donald Trump's "unhinged" press conference Tuesday, filmmaker Michael Moore arranged for buses to transport the audience of his broadway show "The Terms of My Surrender" to Trump Tower to protest the president's defense of white supremacists and mourn the death of Heather Heyer.
"This guy is not just crazy--he has an agenda, and he's mad that he said what they made him say, and he walked it all back."
--Michael MooreJoining the demonstration was actor and activist Mark Ruffalo, who delivered a speech slamming Trump for enabling and empowering neo-Nazis, whose actions over the weekend culminated in deadly violence.
"We're here today to commemorate a life of an American that was killed by a Nazi on American soil," Ruffalo said. "Let's say her name so Donald Trump can hear what's happened here. He's allowed these people, he's allowed fascism, he's allowed the KKK, he's allowed Nazis to show their ugly face, and we're here to remind him there's a cost for that. Americans have died because of that. Say her name: Heather Heyer."
Watch the speech:
Many characterized Trump's unscripted press conference as a display of the president's "real" views, in contrast to the more measured tone of his speech on Monday, in which Trump specifically denounced white supremacists for the first time.
In his Tuesday remarks, Trump returned to blaming "both sides" for the violence over the weekend while insisting that there were many "good people" among the neo-Nazis who participated in the so-called "Unite the Right" rally on Saturday.
Moore said during Tuesday night's demonstration, which took place alongside the protests that kicked off earlier in the day as Trump returned to New York, that the press conference "really showed me that this guy is not just crazy--he has an agenda, and he's mad that he said what they made him say, and he walked it all back."
In an interview on CNN following the protest, Moore elaborated on his reaction to the president's remarks. When asked by host Don Lemon if he believes Trump is a racist, Moore responded without hesitation.
"He's absolutely a racist," Moore said. "He's not as stupid as people want to believe he is. He knows exactly what he's doing, he knows the words to use."
Moore went on to say "we cannot any longer mealy-mouth about this."
"America has to stand up," he declared.