NEW YORK — On Thursday, a Manhattan Criminal Court jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to advance his performance in the 2016 White House race. Here are reactions from prominent Black organizations and individuals, including some who were involved in the prosecution:
U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, D-North Carolina:
“The jurors have spoken. Justice prevailed over politics yesterday and showed us that no one is above the law. I pray for our country and those charged with leading it.”
Black Lives Matter:
“Y’all’s insurrectionist president just became the only one ever to be a convicted felon. While this marks the first time Trump is being held accountable, we know his followers will rally behind him. His donations will skyrocket, and so will their efforts. We need to be prepared to fight back. As long as they are fighting this, the threat of white supremacy rising and winning still exists.”
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg:
“While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial, and ultimately at this verdict, in the same manner as every other case that comes through the courthouse doors: by following the facts and the law without fear or favor.”
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas:
“Whew chile! Guilty on all counts in a state case! No matter what happens in November, he cannot ‘undo’ this verdict. I know many are celebrating & I get it, but my heart … breaks for our country! How did we get here?! When did we stop requiring some darned decency of the most powerful person on Earth?! The grand jurors, the prosecutors, the judge, the witnesses & this jury deserve so much more than they will receive. This was a brave undertaking in an unnecessarily violent & politically charged America. FYI, today was a win for the rule of law!”
New York Attorney General Letitia James:
“No one is above the law.”
National Urban League:
“No one, not even a former president, is above the law.”
New York City Councilman Yusef Salaam, a member of the Exonerated Central Park Five:
“Even though Donald Trump wanted us executed even when it was proven that we were innocent, I do not take pleasure at today’s verdict. We should be proud that today the system worked. But we should be somber that we Americans have an ex-president who has been found guilty on 34 separate felony charges. And while today might not be as shocking as January 6th, it is equally profound. On January 7th, a large majority of Americans agreed that Trump should never again lead this country. Let us hope we wake up tomorrow with the same conviction. We do have to do better than this. Because we are better than this.”
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina (whose name has been floated as a possible running mate to candidate Trump):
“Absolute injustice. This erodes our justice system. Hear me clearly: You cannot silence the American people. You cannot stop us from voting for change. Joe Biden — you’re fired. We the People stand with Donald J. Trump.”
Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network:
“I couldn’t help but think throughout this trial of Donald Trump sitting through days of testimony in Manhattan Criminal Court. This is the same building that Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise all passed into, day after day, as they endured a show trial for a crime they did not commit. These children had to hear vitriol from people whose anger was incited by a man who spent a small fortune on full-page ads calling for their execution. Now the shoe is on the other foot. Donald Trump is the criminal, and those five men are exonerated. I’m reminded of Dr. King’s proverb that the arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice.”
