Donald Trump. Photo: Gage Skidmore–Flickr
The nation’s leading lawyers’ civil rights organization,
New York’s State Attorney General and the National Action Network (NAN) have denounced the violence caused by the largest gathering of white nationalists in years in Charlottesville, Virginia.
White nationalists waving the confederate flag and singing pro-Nazi songs faced a counter-protest from groups denouncing racism. A car driven by a suspected white nationalist plowed into a crowd in what many people believe was a deliberate act of terrorism against the counter demonstration.
One person died in the violence and several others injured. A state of emergency was declared in both the city and the state. The white supremacists are opposed to the removal of a statue of the traitor to the union, confederate general from Robert E. Lee from a city park.
President Trump in comments this afternoon condemned what he called “hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides” clearly afraid of alienating his extremists and right wing supporters.
The Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, in a statement said the violence is also connected to Donald Trump’s volatile rhetoric. “The current state of emergency in Charlottesville and loss of lives is a scathing reminder to us all that the fight for justice is not over – we still have so much more to do. But we cannot forget that this is also a symptom of the rhetoric the Trump Administration has supported since the Presidential Election and into the White House, promoting violence, attacking civil rights, and allowing organizations backed by bigots to thrive,” the NAN statement reads.
The statement continued: “The National Action Network calls on President Trump to address the causes of these events, denounce the white supremacists at the very heart of this conflict, and start working towards peace.”
“We stand with the counter-demonstrators in Charlottesville, and will continue to fight for justice across the country,” the statement added.
“This weekend, white nationalists terrorized Charlottesville and the rest of our country. Our hearts go out to the victims of the violence today, and we redouble our commitment to combat hate,” said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of The Lawyers’ Committee. “As one of the oldest and largest racial justice organizations in our country, we understand the human devastation discrimination brings, and the urgency of acting now to combat discrimination and hate.”
“My heart is with the people of Charlottesville, especially those standing up to hatred, racism, and bigotry,” Eric T. Schneiderman, the attorney general, said. “The white supremacist violence on display in Charlottesville this weekend is an affront to everything this country represents. When you give license to open expressions of bigotry against some groups, you open the door to bigotry against all groups of people.”
Schneiderman added: “Each of us, especially those of us in public office, has a moral obligation to condemn these actions in the strongest of terms. False equivalencies between sides simply provides cover to the white supremacists seeking to take our country backwards and tear our communities apart. Our diversity is our greatest strength—and we will not allow anyone to turn that strength against us.”
