Trump Establishes Camp Nelson as First National Monument Celebrating African-American Veterans

President Trump used his executive powers to designate a national monument in Kentucky to honor African-American soldiers during the Civil War.

Camp Nelson National Monument is a nearly 400-acre site in Kentucky which served as one of the largest recruitment centers for black soldiers.

Kentucky was the last state in the union to accept African-American enlistees but eventually sent 23,000 of the roughly 180,000 black troops who fought on the Union’s side during the Civil War.

“During the war,” Trump announced in a proclamation, “thousands of enslaved African-Americans risked their lives escaping to Camp Nelson, out of a deep desire for freedom and the right of self-determination.”

“Camp Nelson reminds us of the courage and determination possessed by formerly enslaved African-Americans as they fought for their freedom.”

African-American support for Trump on the rise

President Trump’s designation of a national monument to honor African-American soldiers who served in the Civil War is just more evidence of his support for the black community.

“At a time in our country when there are divisions, this is the real story of America,” Rep. Andy Barr said.

“This is the right place, and it is above politics,” U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke added. “This is red, white and blue.”

Indeed, Trump’s actions are more concerned about the colors of America rather than the color of one’s skin.

This designation and appreciation of history will no doubt raise support amongst the African-American community. Support that ranges from 20-36 percent depending on which poll you believe, significantly higher than previous Republican presidents.

Trump’s support for African-Americans

President Trump’s support for the black community extends far beyond the simple designation of monuments.

Under his economic policies, the community has seen historically low unemployment numbers. Trump signed an executive order on workforce development that encourages employers to increase on-the-job training, an attempt to close the so-called “skills gap.”

He has been an avid advocate of prison reform, even enlisting the guidance of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.

And, in an effort to promote the growth of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), President Trump has increased funding for various HBCU programs.

How many of these things have been covered in the mainstream media? And of those that have been covered, how many were covered in a positive light?

Instead, the media would rather portray the President as a racist. For a ‘racist,’ he sure does an awful lot for the African-American community – even more than the nation’s first black President.

Rusty Weiss has been covering politics for over 15 years. His writings have appeared in the Daily Caller, Fox... More about Rusty Weiss

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