College Voices
Virginia College Town at the Center of Deadly, Alt-White Demonstration
One person is dead and dozens have been injured after white supremacists converged on the small college town of Charlottesville, Virginia to protest the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee, a top Confederacy general.
It all began with a scuffle Friday night on the University of Virginia’s campus when white supremacists, carrying torches and wearing swastikas, were met with anti-racism counter-protesters.
“Alt-right protestors carrying torches marched on UVA’s Grounds Friday evening, attempting to intimidate bystanders and spread their message of intolerance and hate. There were several violent altercations during and after the march, and minor injuries were reported, including one University police officer who was injured while making an arrest.”, said the university’s President in a statement.
The violence carried over into Saturday morning when hundreds of white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and KKK members clashed with counter protesters a second time. Chaos quickly turned to tragedy when a vehicle rammed into a crowd of those there to oppose the “Unite the Right” rally.
32-year- old Heather Hayes was killed, while 19 others were injured in the assault.
My heart goes out to Heather Heyer's family. She died standing up against hate & bigotry. Her bravery should inspire all to come together. pic.twitter.com/1Zbi2D2Vgq
— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) August 13, 2017
The driver of the vehicle was James Alex Fields Jr., 20, of Maumee Ohio. After attempting to flee the scene, Fields was apprehended by authorities and was charged with one count of second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding, and one other charge in relation to him leaving the scene. His assault has been deemed as a grave act of domestic terrorism, one stemming from the hate perpetrated by President Trump.
Despite the tragic events that have rocked the small and quiet town of Charlottesville, much attention has been placed on the President, who when first given the chance, failed to condemn and name white supremacy. Trump’s very controversial statement regarding the events in Charlottesville has landed him in the hot seat once again, this time without the backing of many Republicans.
We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides, on many sides,” Trump said to reporters.” It’s been going on for a long time in our country. Not Donald Trump. Not Barack Obama. It’s been going on for a long, long time.”
Many felt that the President’s statement did not recognize white supremacists as the culprits behind the events that have unfolded on the University of Virginia’s campus and in Charlottesville. Furthermore, the line “violence on many sides” suggests that the counter protesters who were there to oppose the hate-fueled demonstration were as also at fault.
It has been largely speculated that President Trump carefully and purposefully chose not to name, and therefore villianify, white supremacy, in order to appease the alt-right groups that compose a core part of his coalition.
Politicians, from both sides, were quick to denounce Trump’s response:
Mr. President – we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism. https://t.co/PaPNiPPAoW
— Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) August 12, 2017
Very important for the nation to hear @potus describe events in #Charlottesville for what they are, a terror attack by #whitesupremacists
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 12, 2017
.@POTUS needs to speak out against the poisonous resurgence of white supremacy. There are not "many sides" here, just right and wrong.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) August 12, 2017
There is only one side. #charlottesville
— Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) August 12, 2017
The violence, chaos, and apparent loss of life in Charlottesville is not the fault of "many sides." It is racists and white supremacists.
— Mark Herring (@MarkHerringVA) August 12, 2017
We should call evil by its name. My brother didn't give his life fighting Hitler for Nazi ideas to go unchallenged here at home. -OGH
— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) August 12, 2017
White supremacists, Neo-Nazis and anti-Semites are the antithesis of our American values. There are no other "sides" to hatred and bigotry.
— Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (@RosLehtinen) August 12, 2017
Repeat after me, @realDonaldTrump: white supremacy is an affront to American values. #Charlottesville
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 12, 2017
In an ironic twist, the President’s daughter, Ivanka Trump did what her father dared not and called out racism, neo-Nazism and white supremacy. Of these truly historic events in Charlotte, Ivanka tweeted:
1:2 There should be no place in society for racism, white supremacy and neo-nazis.
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) August 13, 2017
2:2 We must all come together as Americans — and be one country UNITED. #Charlottesville
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) August 13, 2017
Although unwilling to name white supremacy and bigotry as the causes of these truly historic events, President Trump sent his condolences to the victims of the deadly car crash, which left one-person dead and several more counter protesters injured.
Condolences to the family of the young woman killed today, and best regards to all of those injured, in Charlottesville, Virginia. So sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017
Vigils for Heather Hayes and the other victims are now being held in the city of Charlottesville, a city must now overcome a weekend of violence, hate, and lawlessness.
This is a developing story.
By: Stefan Sykes
