President Trump marked the eve of the Charlottesville-riot anniversary with a tweet that—surprise, surprise—may be dividing the nation, USA Today reports. „The riots in Charlottesville… Politics News Summaries.
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President Trump marked the eve of the Charlottesville-riot anniversary with a tweet that—surprise, surprise—may be dividing the nation, USA Today reports. „The riots in Charlottesville a year ago resulted in senseless death and division,“ the president tweeted Saturday . „We must come together as a nation. I condemn all types of racism and acts of violence. Peace to ALL Americans!“ For some, Trump’s tweet recalled his remarks after fighting broke out in Charlottesville, Va., last year and three people were killed: „You had some very bad people in that group,“ he said at the time, referring to white nationalists, „but you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides.“
„‚All types.‘ ‚Both sides.‘ Continuing to advance a narrative of moral equivalency between racists and those opposed to racism, so as not to tick off his white supremacist supporters,“ NAACP official Sherrilyn Ifill tweeted. Richard Cohen, head of the South Poverty Law Center, said white people think „they’re the ones being targeted for racism and a lot of these people are Trump supporters so when the president makes a comment like this with ‚all types‘ it’s hard not to be suspicious.“ Meanwhile, white nationalist Jason Kessler—who organized last year’s Charlottesville demonstration—was refused a permit there this year but has been allowed to hold a rally Sunday across the street from the White House, Reuters reports.
