In Speech to Outline Energy Policy Donald Trump Calls for End to Violence

During a speech Thursday in Pittsburgh, where Donald Trump was scheduled to speak about his energy policy, the Republican presidential nominee diverted momentarily to address the ongoing violence in Charlotte, N.C.

“Our country desperately needs unity, and it needs the spirit of togetherness that has not only got us through our toughest times—but which has lifted us up, in the past, to our greatest achievements as a nation,” he said. “Every day, I see people of different backgrounds working together for a common good, and we need to bring that spirit to every part of our country—and become one American nation, united by our shared values and principles as American citizens.

“We all have to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, see things through their eyes, and then get to work fixing our wounded country.”

Trump said many Americans are watching the unrest in Charlotte unfold on their TV screens, while others are witnessing it firsthand. He said it’s making America look bad, “especially when we are supposed to be the leader,” which is difficult to do when our own cities appear to be out of control.

He said Americans “honor and recognize” the right to peacefully assemble, protest and demonstrate, but that “there is no right to engage in violent disruption, or to threaten the public safety and peace.” Every American is entitled to live in a safe community, and called for an end to the violence against citizens and law enforcement.

“The people who will suffer the most as a result of these riots, are law-abiding African-American residents who live in these communities,” he said. “It is their jobs, housing markets, schools and economic conditions that will suffer—and the first duty of government is to protect their well-being and safety.

“There is no compassion in tolerating lawless conduct. Crime and violence is an attack on the poor, and will never be accepted in a Trump Administration. Our job is not to make life more comfortable for the violent disruptor, but to make life more comfortable for the African-American parent trying to raise their kids in peace.”

Trump said that for every one violent protestor, there are thousands of others who “just want to be able to sleep safely at night,” and that with more law enforcement, more community engagement, and more effective policing, the problems American inner cities face can be overcome. He repeated his earlier claim that the violence has become a “national crisis,” and said it is the job of the next president to address it.

“We need a national anti-crime agenda to make our cities safe again,” he said. “I will appoint the best prosecutors, investigators and federal law enforcement officers in the country to dismantle the international cartels, gangs and criminal syndicates—and I will stop the drugs from flowing into our country.

“My administration will work with local communities and local officials to make the reduction of crime a top priority. Safety is the foundation of the ladder to American success: a great education, and a good-paying job. To have the best schools, and the best jobs, you must have safe communities.

“That means we must recognize the contributions of our police, who come from all backgrounds and all walks of life, and who often thanklessly risk their own lives to protect the innocent.”

Turning back to his energy speech, Trump told the audience he plans to “lift the restrictions on American energy,” thereby bringing economic prosperity to the entire country. He quoted statistics from the Institute for Energy Research that found the following benefits to easing restrictions on energy production:

• increase GDP by more than $100 billion annually
• add over 500,000 new jobs annually
• increase annual wages by more than $30 billion over the next 7 years
• increase federal, state and local tax revenues by almost $6 trillion over 4 decades
• increase total economic activity by more than $20 trillion over the next 40 years.

“In addition, we will streamline the permitting process for all energy infrastructure projects, including the billions of dollars in projects held up by President Obama—creating countless more jobs in the process,” he said. “Overall, my entire economic plan—tax reform, regulatory reform, energy reform, and trade reform—will create at least 25 million new jobs over the next 10 years, assuming an average growth rate of 3.5 percent, and I believe we will reach 4 percent growth.”