Trump Again Blames 'Both Sides' for Violence in Virginia Protests

The President of the United States once again identified 'both sides' as responsible for the violence stemming from the white supremacist rally and the clashes surrounding it in Charlottesville; this came a day after he condemned the violent actions of racist groups amid rising criticism of similar remarks. Donald Trump stated on August 24 at Trump Tower in New York that 'you have a group on one side that is very bad, and you have a group on the other side that is very, very violent.' Trump mentioned that there were 'troublemakers' among the opponents of the racist protests, referring to them as 'alt-left,' seemingly alluding to the opponents of the 'alt-right' in the United States. Authorities in Charlottesville, Virginia, had initially allowed right-wing and 'white nationalist' groups to protest against the removal of a statue of a Confederate general. However, the official permit was revoked after street violence erupted on the morning of August 12. Among the marchers were neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan members, and white supremacists. In opposition, a group gathered in Charlottesville to protest against this march. Images from the scene of the violence show that some from both sides engaged with pepper spray or baseball bats. Some anti-fascists stated they went to disrupt the rally of the right-wingers and racists. Trump stated that both sides attacked each other and described it as 'evil and terrible,' claiming that leftists 'violently attacked the other group.' The latest remarks from the President came a day after he condemned racist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis, emphasizing that hate and bigotry have no place in America. However, before condemning them, he had previously stated that 'many sides' contributed to the violence, which drew a wave of criticism, including from prominent Republican lawmakers. Critics accused the President of failing to name white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and Ku Klux Klan members. During the violence at the 'white nationalist' rally and its surrounding events in Charlottesville, three people were killed, and 35 were injured. At the end of the rally, a car drove into the anti-racists, resulting in one of the fatalities and most of the injuries. Trump referred to the incident, stating, 'You can call it terrorism, you can call it murder, whatever you like... The driver of the car is a murderer, and what he did was horrific, horrific, and inexcusable.' The President also expressed concern about the reasons for the initial protests in Virginia. The Charlottesville protests, which had official permission before the violence, were against the removal of the statue of General Robert E. Lee, a Confederate commander who was known to support slavery. With the defeat of the Southern army, this political entity ceased to exist, and the states united. Robert Lee was the commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and remained loyal to Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy, until the end of the war. The American Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865. Trump stated that George Washington (1775-1783) and Thomas Jefferson (1790-1793), both former Presidents of the United States, were supporters of slavery. He questioned whether the statue of General Lee would be removed next, asking, 'I wonder if next week it will be George Washington? A week later, Thomas Jefferson?' Trump's latest comments were welcomed by David Duke, the former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, who tweeted, 'Thank you, President Trump, for your honesty and courage in stating the truth.' On the other hand, these remarks faced renewed criticism. Tim Kaine, the Senator from Virginia, stated that the problems lie with one side; the white supremacists who spread racism and intolerance. Paul Ryan, the Republican Speaker of the House, also stated, 'We must be clear. White supremacy is repugnant.' The Ku Klux Klan, which was first established in the second half of the 19th century, initially formed in the Southern states of the U.S. in opposition to the Reconstruction era. The Reconstruction era refers to the period following the American Civil War. This organization is deeply committed to white supremacy and is considered a proponent of white nationalism (white identity as a national identity). Critics of 'white nationalism' argue that this term is merely a cover for white supremacists and racist groups. Studies from 1868 to 1871 show that the Ku Klux Klan was involved in over 400 lynchings and extrajudicial killings. Neo-Nazism is a term used for groups that advocate for the revival of fascism and Nazism.