President Trump’s Silence on White Supremacism Is Deafening

LOS ANGELES — White supremacist demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, turned violent today when neo-Nazis and others engaged in violent assaults against counter-protesters and people of color. These acts resulted in at least one fatality and several injuries. In his remarks on today’s events, President Trump blamed “many sides” for today’s atrocities.

Below is a statement issued by Reshma Shamasunder, deputy director of the National Immigration Law Center:

“Today, people who stood for fairness, justice, and equality were physically harmed. Our thoughts and prayers are with these courageous leaders and their families.

“President Trump’s failure to unequivocally condemn white supremacists and the role they played in contributing to this violence is shameful and dangerous. Through discriminatory policy, messaging and, at times, deafening silence, President Trump is sending a clear message to communities of color that our freedom, our rights, and our place in this country are less important than those of others.

“This is not acceptable. We stand firmly with the brave leaders fighting for justice and dignity for all of us, regardless of where we were born, the color of our skin, how we pray, or whom we love. The Trump administration and elected officials should do the same.”

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