August 11, 2017politicalwhite nationalismracial violencepresidential responsecivil rightspolitical
White nationalists march in Charlottesville Trump says very fine people on both sides
Hundreds of white nationalists and neo-Nazis march through the University of Virginia campus and Charlottesville carrying torches, chanting "Jews will not replace us." The following day, a white supremacist drives his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing Heather Heyer and injuring 19 others. President Trump condemns "hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides, on many sides." Two days later, under pressure, Trump names white nationalists by name. He then holds a press conference reinstating the "many sides" framing, saying there were "very fine people on both sides." The response draws widespread condemnation from Republican leaders.