This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
On August 4, 2019, a gunman killed 20 people at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, in what authorities said appeared to be a racially motivated hate crime. Just 13 hours later, another gunman in downtown Dayton, Ohio, killed nine people.
US President Donald Trump responded to the attacks by saying, 'These sinister ideologies must be defeated. Hate has no place in America. Hatred warps the mind, ravages the heart and devours the soul.'
Trump did not directly address accusations that his anti-immigrant and racially charged comments have contributed to a rise in hate crimes. However, he did say he was directing the Department of Justice to investigate domestic terrorism and propose legislation to ensure that those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face the death penalty.
Trump's remarks came as the nation grappled with the aftermath of the two mass shootings. The attacks left dozens wounded and sparked widespread outrage and calls for action to address the root causes of hate crimes.
