FIU President Blasts Trump At MLK Event

MIAMI, FL — Saying it was not how he intended to start his speech, the president of Florida International University on Friday blasted President Trump over racist characterizations the president allegedly used to describe U.S. immigrants from countries such as Haiti and El Salvador. Speaking at the university's Martin Luther King breakfast in honor of the slain civil rights leader, Mark B. Rosenberg said he was disgusted by the president's remarks and called them a "low point" for the country. He also noted that Friday was the eighth anniversary of the deadly earthquake that struck Haiti.

"I personally, am disgusted by the senseless words coming from our senior-most leader," Rosenberg said to applause at the breakfast event. "We know that our diverse international community is at the core of who we are, the core of our institutional and our community ethos."

Florida, and particularly South Florida, is home to a large population of Haitian immigrants. Other prominent Floridians like former Gov. Jeb Bush and retiring Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen have also expressed outrage over the president's alleged remarks and particularly the characterization of Haiti and El Salvador as "s---hole" countries.

The president has denied making such offensive remarks but prominent Republican and Democrat legislators insist President Trump said them during Thursday's meeting on immigration at the White House. No recording of that meeting has been released if one exists.

FIU is one of the largest public universities in Florida with more than 54,000 students enrolled at the university's two campuses and centers.

"International is our middle name. We embrace people. We embrace ideas. We embrace traditions from all over the world," Rosenberg continued. "They make us stronger. They make us better. They align us more with Dr. King; who we trust, who guides us."

Rosenberg concluded by saying that Americans have an opportunity every day to honor the legacy and memory of Dr. King.

"Dr. King is a great American. He stood up for ignorance. He stood up for disrespect. He stood against racism. And let each of us draw strength from that and be beacons of light and inclusion in our community, our nation and the world," Rosenberg added. "We got to speak up when nasty things happen like yesterday — unacceptable — in terms of who we are and who we aspire to be."

Watch FIU president's speech at Friday's MLK event:

Photo and video courtesy Florida International University