Trump lacks proper Charlottesville response

Lauri Hoedl, Opinion Editor

White nationalists came together on Aug. 11-12 in Charlottesville, Va., to march in a “Unite the Right” protest, resulting in violence, deaths, and chaos. Neo-Nazis, KKK members, ALT-rights, white supremacists, and other extremist movements came together to protest the removal of confederate monuments.

One person died from being hit by a neo-Nazi driving into a crowd of counter-protesters and 34 were injured from the crash and outbreaks of fights, yet the president lacked outrage.

How has America gotten to a point where Nazis and KKK members can walk through the streets yelling racist chants, waving Nazi and confederate flags and little is done to condemn?

Many place the blame for the rise of open racism on President Donald Trump.

In an New York Daily News article about the Charlottesville events, writer Rich Griset said, “organizer Jason Kessler, alt-right leader Richard Spencer and former Ku Klux Klan Imperial Wizard David Duke, who said the large size of the gathering represented how he and his fellow racists feel emboldened under President Trump.”

The contention is that people believe they are doing what Trump stands for when they take to the streets exclaiming “white lives matter,” “blood and soil” (a Nazi slogan) and “we will not be replaced,” and he is not doing enough to refute their claim.

In an article in Time, writer Sarah Rankin said the Charlottesville mayor, Michael Signer said, “I place the blame for a lot of what you’re seeing in America today right at the doorstep of the White House and the people around the president.”

The current voices of reason in our country are coming from late night show hosts, instead of the president.

Jimmy Fallon was disgusted by the situation and said, “The fact that it took the president two days to come out and clearly denounce racists and white supremacists is shameful,” and “it’s important for everyone — especially white people — in this country to speak out against this.”

Fallon explained that America needs a leader that will bring out the best in people. He also stressed that “ignoring it is just as bad as supporting it.”

Seth Myers also spoke up about Charlottesville, condemning Trump for never using the term “terrorist” and saying “on many sides” initially, instead of calling out white supremacists.

Myers said, “Donald Trump did not immediately denounce the white supremacist movement when given the chance and now, whether he knows it or not, many of those people see him as leading that movement” because “you can stand for a nation, or you can stand for a hateful movement. You can’t do both.”

What happened in Charlottesville was unacceptable, along with the President’s reaction. There should never be a time when Nazi flags are waved proudly, racist chants are yelled, and violence occurs, without an immediate statement of condemnation from the president.