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Reactions to Trump’s statement on violence in Virginia

Aug 12, 2017 | 6:45 PM

President Donald Trump blamed “many sides” for violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, in the wake of a white nationalist demonstration, drawing swift reactions.

Democrats and some Republicans called on him to specifically denounce white supremacy and racially motivated hate by name. Vice-President Mike Pence supported the president’s speech. A white supremacist website praised the comments.

What Trump said:

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides,” Trump said. “It’s been going on for a long time in our country. Not Donald Trump. Not Barack Obama. It’s been going on for a long, long time.”

What others are saying:

— “I’m not going to make any bones about it. I place the blame for a lot of what you’re seeing in American today right at the doorstep of the White House and the people around the president.” — Charlottesville Mayor Michael Signer, a Democrat.

— “Mr. President – we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism.” — Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., on Twitter.

— “Very important for the nation to hear @potus describe events in #Charlottesville for what they are, a terror attack by #whitesupremacists” — Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., on Twitter.

— “@POTUS needs to speak out against the poisonous resurgence of white supremacy. There are not “many sides” here, just right and wrong.” – Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., on Twitter.

— “As @POTUS Trump said, “We have to come together as Americans with love for our nation… & true affection for each other.” #Charlottesville” — Vice-President Mike Pence on Twitter.

— “There is only one side. #charlottesville” — Former Vice-President Joe Biden on Twitter.

— “Even as we protect free speech and assembly, we must condemn hatred, violence and white supremacy.” — Former President Bill Clinton on Twitter.

— “The violence, chaos, and apparent loss of life in Charlottesville is not the fault of “many sides.” It is racists and white supremacists.” — Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat.

— “We reject the racism and violence of white nationalists like the ones acting out in Charlottesville. Everyone in leadership must speak out.” — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican and Trump supporter.

— “We should call evil by its name. My brother didn’t give his life fighting Hitler for Nazi ideas to go unchallenged here at home. -OGH” — Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, on Twitter.

— “We must ALL condemn domestic terror & stand together against racism, hate and evils that if left unchecked will tear us apart #Charlottesville — Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., on Twitter.

— “White supremacists, Neo-Nazis and anti-Semites are the antithesis of our American values. There are no other “sides” to hatred and bigotry.” — Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., on Twitter.

— “The President’s talk of violence ‘on many sides’ ignores the shameful reality of white supremacism in our country today, and continues a disturbing pattern of complacency around such acts of hate.” — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

— “Trump comments were good. He didn’t attack us. He just said the nation should come together. Nothing specific against us. … No condemnation at all. When asked to condemn, he just walked out of the room. Really, really good. God bless him.” — Daily Stormer, a white supremacist website promoting the Charlottesville demonstration as part of its Summer of Hate edition.

The Associated Press