president-elect donald trump stands outside the clubhouse following meetings with people he is considering for his cabinet. | drew angerer/getty images by azi paybarah 11/21/16 05:37 am est democratic members of congress from new york said on sunday that president-elect donald trump<u+2019>s actions are further dividing the country. at a rally outside trump world tower on first avenue in manhattan, rep. yvette clarke of brooklyn said trump<u+2019>s rhetoric is fueling the actions of people committing hate crimes. story continued below <u+201c>it would behoove donald trump to denounce the behavior, the rhetoric and the way in which communities are being targeted,<u+201d> she said. <u+201c>the sentiment that has been put forth by the trump administration feeds into those individuals who are emboldened to act upon these bigoted sentiments.<u+201d> rep. greg meeks of queens said, <u+201c>most of the individuals who support him are not racist. i can also say that all of the racists do support him. that is a concern to me. it is dividing us.<u+201d> rep. jerry nadler of manhattan said trump<u+2019>s pledge to unite the country, made in his victory speech two weeks ago, has been undermined by his appointment of steve bannon as chief strategist. <u+201c>you can<u+2019>t unite the country by appointing people who <u+2026> supported bigotry and expressed supports of bigotry," nadler said. "steve bannon presided over what he called the alt-right. the alt-right is a forum for anti-semitism, racism, bigotry, white nationalism. " bannon was until recently the proprietor of breitbart, a site that has provided a major platform for "alt right" ideologies. nadler also criticized trump's appointment of senator jeffrey sessions of alabama as attorney general. "who can trust jeff sessions, who has expressed racism in the past, who called the voting rights act an intrusion?" said nadler. the senate judiciary committee blocked sessions' nomination to the federal bench in 1986 because of remarks he made in private and which he later said were taken out of context. (he was suing the klu klux klan at the time some of his controversial remarks were allegedly made.) sessions later said the hearings were unfair and politically motivated, and his supporters note that he led a lawsuit to desegregate public schools in his state. rep. hakeem jeffries of brooklyn said trump<u+2019>s latest controversy <u+2014> tweeting about the broadway show "hamilton" after its lead actor directed a pointed message to vice president-elect mike pence, who was in the audience <u+2014> was a distraction from more serious matters. <u+201c>he has resorted to twitter in order to distract the american people from the issue of great importance,<u+201d> said jeffries. <u+201c>this is the president-elect. he is going to be the leader of the free world. and he is tweeting about 'hamilton?' where are we at in this country?<u+201d> rep. nydia velazquez of brooklyn said the twitter fight suggested a deeper problem with the incoming president. <u+201c>what a thin skin he has," she said. "and this is the person who has the nuclear code? that is the kind of behavior we have from a leader.<u+201d> a free synopsis of our pro morning email about new york education policy and politics a free synopsis of our pro morning email about new york energy policy and politics a free synopsis of our pro morning email about new york health care policy and politics a free synopsis of our pro morning email about new york real estate policy and politics our morning email with must-read analysis and breaking news on state news and politics a morning email with must-read analysis and breaking news on city news and politics. a weekly round-up of legislation in city council for politics and policy professionals. a reported briefing on money in politics, executive moves, and trends in communications, lobbying and consulting. our twice-a-week digest of news on courts and the law in new york azi paybarah and jimmy vielkind's must-read briefing informing the daily conversation among knowledgeable new yorkers.
democratic lawmakers criticize trump rhetoric, tweets at rally
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