Father and Son Bush Condemn Racial Prejudice and Hatred

Two former Republican presidents of the United States, George Bush and George Herbert Walker Bush, issued a statement to their fellow citizens urging them to always reject racial prejudice, hate speech, and anti-Semitism in society. This father-son statement, which collectively held the presidency of the United States for 12 years, is part of the reactions to the recent remarks made by Donald Trump, the current president, following the events in Charlottesville. The former presidents did not directly reference Trump's comments in their statement on August 16. They referred to a part of the United States Declaration of Independence (July 1776) written by Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. Jefferson, one of the founders of America, was born in the same state where the recent conflicts occurred. The declaration states that all men are created equal, and mentions the 'unalienable rights' of 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' The Bushes stated, 'We know that this truth is enduring, for we have witnessed the nobility and greatness of our country.' This statement, alongside several other reactions from activists and politicians from both major parties in the United States, came just hours after President Trump once again blamed 'both sides' for the violence stemming from the racist demonstrations and the ensuing clashes in Charlottesville; a day after he condemned the violence of the racist groups amid rising criticism of similar remarks. Trump stated that there were 'troublemakers' among the opponents of the racist demonstrations. According to him, there were 'very bad people' and 'very violent people' on both sides. Among other senior politicians from Trump's party who criticized his remarks are Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Ronna Romney McDaniel, the chair of the Republican National Committee. Ryan stated, 'We must be clear. White supremacy is repugnant.' McDaniel also said, 'In the events of Charlottesville, the blame lies squarely with the Ku Klux Klan and white supremacists.' The violence in Charlottesville occurred following demonstrations by groups known as 'white nationalists,' which included the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis, and other white supremacist organizations. The initial demonstration was held in protest against the removal of a statue of General Robert E. Lee, a commander in the American Civil War, who was known to support slavery. The initial protest was officially permitted, but after the violence erupted, this permission was revoked. Ultimately, in the final hours of the gatherings, a car drove into a crowd of anti-racist protesters, resulting in one death and several injuries. Two state police officers also lost their lives in a helicopter crash related to the demonstrations and violence.