One year after the deadly white supremacist demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, the state’s former Democratic governor said President Donald Trump failed to live up to the moment.
Far-right groups are holding another rally Sunday, dubbed « Unite the Right 2, » this time in the nation’s capital. The rally is being billed as a « white civil rights rally » meant to protest « civil rights abuse in Charlottesville. »
In a tweet over the weekend, Trump said he condemned « all types of racism and acts of violence. »
McAuliffe said in his CNN interview that he spoke with Trump last year during the chaos of that weekend.
« I talked to the President that afternoon, explained him the situation, what had been going on, what these people were doing in the city of Charlottesville, » McAuliffe said. « And when he came out and gave his statement that it was both sides’ fault, I gotta tell you, it was shocking to me. It wasn’t both sides. »
He recalled seeing neo-Nazis and white supremacists demonstrating in his state that weekend and took issue with Trump’s « both sides » comment last year.
« The other side were the folks who were protesting against hatred, like Heather Heyer, » McAuliffe said.
