USA President Trump must condemn white nationalist hatred role in Charlottesville, Virginia terrorist road rage attack that killed 1 and hurt 19

Last updated on 15th Aug. 2017

[Warning: Those readers who do not like to read about violence may please skip reading this post.]

Update on 15-Aug-2017: From my blog post, USA President Trump UNEQUIVOCALLY CONDEMNS racism and white supremacists BY NAME in context of Charlottesville tragedy!, http://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.in/2017/08/usa-president-trump-unequivocally.html, dated 14th Aug. 2017, [President Trump says:] "Racism is evil. And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the K.K.K., neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans." end-Update.

3 Dead [Ravi: includes 2 policemen in helicopter accident] After Violence Linked To White Nationalist Rally In Virginia, http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/12/542982015/home-to-university-of-virginia-prepares-for-violence-at-white-nationalist-rally, 12th Aug. 2017

Ravi: I am very sorry and very disturbed to know about this tragedy in a city/town that hosts the famous UVa (University of Virginia) - Tragic loss of one life and injuries to tens of people by raw hatred. The above link has a twitter video capturing the moments of impact.
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Trump condemns 'hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides' in Charlottesville, http://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/12/politics/trump-statement-alt-right-protests/index.html.

The above article has a video of USA president Trump giving his views on the Charlottesville violence.
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USA President Trump's tweets on the matter:

We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!, https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/896420822780444672

What is vital now is a swift restoration of law and order and the protection of innocent lives.
#Charlottesville, https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/896467135391596544

We must remember this truth: No matter our color, creed, religion or political party, we are ALL AMERICANS FIRST., https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/896481262776360960

We will continue to follow developments in Charlottesville, and will provide whatever assistance is needed. We are ready, willing and able., https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/896488914877165569

Deepest condolences to the families & fellow officers of the VA State Police who died today. You're all among the best this nation produces., https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/896504109670567936

Condolences to the family of the young woman killed today, and best regards to all of those injured, in Charlottesville, Virginia. So sad!, https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/896512981319790592

Ravi: I appreciate the clear message of USA President Trump against hatred, bigotry and violence but ... - more on it later.
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This WaPo article is not so charitable towards Trump, pointing out that Trump did not respond when a reporter asked him whether he wanted the support of White Nationalists: One dead as car strikes crowds amid protests of white nationalist gathering in Charlottesville; two police die in helicopter crash, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/fights-in-advance-of-saturday-protest-in-charlottesville/2017/08/12/155fb636-7f13-11e7-83c7-5bd5460f0d7e_story.html.

And the article reports rather starkly the words of David Duke, the white nationalist and ideologue, aimed at President Trump:
“So, after decades of White Americans being targeted for discriminated & anti-White hatred, we come together as a people, and you attack us?”

Duke also tweeted. “I would recommend you take a good look in the mirror & remember it was White Americans who put you in the presidency, not radical leftists”

Ravi: I am very disturbed by this. My view is that the counter-protesters should have been law abiding and allowed the white nationalists to exercise their freedom of speech as per USA (and Virginia) law. Of course, the counter-protesters had every right to hold a NON-VIOLENT counter-protest rally. Very unfortunately, some unprovoked but NON-LETHAL violence seems to have been indulged in by both the counter-protesters (against white nationalists) and the protesters (white nationalists), which was illegal and must be condemned no matter who indulged in it.

But that USA's president, the most powerful man on the planet, let alone the USA, did not clearly condemn the white nationalists SPECIFICALLY AND BY NAME, for the road rage terror attack killing 1 and injuring 19, is very disturbing. I mean, the road rage terror attack was far, far more vicious and serious than NON-LETHAL punches being thrown, or pepper spray being sprayed, which too must be condemned but is not as serious as murder/killing and attempt to murder/kill.

It must be noted that many of the counter-protesters were white people. It is very encouraging to see so many white people openly protest against white supremacists. So the violence in Charlottesville cannot be viewed as a race riot as it was not white people against non-white people. It was more of good people of various races including white & black confronting a hateful RACIST ideology of white supremacists (targeting non-whites and Jews).

The above WaPo article has a 2 min 48 secs video which has a horrific anti-semitic statement from a white nationalist. [BTW I think the video in the article was different when I viewed it last night. So perhaps when viewers view the article they might see a different video from what I saw today (13th Aug. 2017 at 3:45 PM Indian Standard Time).] I don't want to tarnish my social media pages by mentioning what he said. But this is Hitler Nazi stuff. I am outraged. And I am scared of what might happen if such things are allowed to fester in USA society. So I am of the considered view that this anti-semitic Nazi Hitler kind of madness in the USA in 2017 needs to be stopped by USA authorities including president Trump using every legal device available to them, including enacting of new legislation if needed. Jews have an EQUAL right to life and liberty like any other religion or no religion USA citizen or even non-USA citizen who legally resides in the USA.

The post article has a set of 55 pics which capture this horrific show of hatred in the USA in 2017 in a town/city that hosts the world famous University of Virginia which was established by one of the famous founders of the USA and principal author of USA's Declaration of Independence, who later became the third President of USA (1801-1809), Thomas Jefferson.

Note that on full screen view of the pics, to see the caption on the pics you have to click on caption at the bottom left of the pic display. The pics include white nationalists marching in the University of Virginia (UVa) campus - I think that was their legal right. UVa president Teresa Sullivan has condemned the hateful messages of the white nationalists.

Hate crime including murder/killing is part of life in most countries including India. But the top man in a decent 21st century democratic country must be unambiguously critical of hate crimes that take lives or cause serious injuries by naming the groups indulging in such hate crime. That's a red line for me. I have to say that I am very disappointed and disturbed that USA president Trump has not condemned the white nationalists by name, even after one person died in that horrific car driving terror attack against the counter-protests. Mr. Trump MUST condemn white nationalists by name for this tragedy in Charlottesville, thereby naming and shaming this neo-Nazi white supremacist evil in the USA unambiguously from the high perch and megaphone that he has as the president of the USA, the most militarily and economically powerful country in the world today.
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"YOU ARE NOT AMERICANS" Governor destroys white supremacists for Charlottesville violence, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFx-nypS3Ac, 3 min. 44 secs. This video has reactions of Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (Democrat) on this Charlottesville violence. Gov. McAuliffe unequivocally condemns the white supremacists and (neo) Nazis BY NAME, and sends out a strong message against them. I (Ravi) find it very heartening to hear these words of Virginia Gov. McAuliffe.

Ravi: I am so glad to see that many Republican leaders including House Speaker Paul Ryan as well as senior senators have unequivocally condemned the white supremacists' hate in Charlottesville. I have given the relevant messages below. I have deliberately not included views of Democratic and Independent senators and the House minority leader. I must also say that I fully support the views expressed in these messages below.

USA Speaker Paul Ryan (Republican-Wisconsin), "The views fueling the spectacle in Charlottesville are repugnant. Let it only serve to unite Americans against this kind of vile bigotry.", https://twitter.com/SpeakerRyan/status/896400866361704449.

USA Senator John McCain (Republican-Arizona):
“Our Founders fought a revolution for the idea that all men are created equal. The heirs of that revolution fought a Civil War to save our nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to that revolutionary proposition.

“Nothing less is at stake on the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia, where a violent attack has taken at least one American life and injured many others in a confrontation between our better angels and our worst demons.

“White supremacists and neo-Nazis are, by definition, opposed to American patriotism and the ideals that define us as a people and make our nation special.

“As we mourn the tragedy that has occurred in Charlottesville, American patriots of all colors and creeds must come together to defy those who raise the flag of hatred and bigotry.”

Source Permalink: https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/8/statement-by-senator-john-mccain-on-white-supremacist-attack-in-charlottesville

Senator Cory Gardner (Republican-Colorado), "Mr. President - we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism.", https://twitter.com/SenCoryGardner/status/896472477844385792.

Senator Marco Rubio (Republican-Florida), "Very important for the nation to hear @potus describe events in #Charlottesville for what they are, a terror attack by #whitesupremacists", https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/896483980857532416.

Senator Chuck Grassley (Republican-Iowa), 'What " WhiteNatjonalist" are doing in Charlottesville is homegrown terrorism that can't be tolerated anymore that what Any extremist does', https://twitter.com/ChuckGrassley/status/896479276790292480.

Senator Orrin Hatch (Republican-Utah), "Their tiki torches may be fueled by citronella but their ideas are fueled by hate, & have no place in civil society.", "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", https://twitter.com/senorrinhatch/status/896486793083842560.

Senator Rob Portman (Republican-Ohio), "The tragedy in Charlottesville this afternoon was domestic terrorism. We must all condemn hatred and white nationalism.", https://twitter.com/senrobportman/status/896500463155150849.
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Here's another relevant article: Trump’s Remarks on Charlottesville Violence Are Criticized as Insufficient, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/12/us/trump-charlottesville-protest-nationalist-riot.html.

Ravi: I felt it appropriate to mention that I have fond memories of a road travel visit (from New Hampshire/Massachusetts border) that I made to Falls Church city in Virginia, and the fascinating Luray Caverns in Virginia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luray_Caverns, in the second half of the 1980s. I had picked up a T-shirt souvenir with a pic of Luray Caverns that I used for many years before it got worn out. I had only a very superficial knowledge then of USA history and the role of Thomas Jefferson of Virginia in it. But what I recall was a pleasant road trip to meet Indian friends (fellow software developers from my Bombay/Mumbai based company) in Falls Church and also the Luray Caverns visit, with no experience of hatred from anybody (white, black or brown).

I pray to Almighty God that USA is saved and protected from the spread of the dangerous virus of racial hatred (against non-whites by white supremacists and neo-Nazis, but also against whites by some other, I guess smaller, groups) and religious hatred (e.g. anti-Jew) that some USA citizens seem to have, very unfortunately, fallen prey to.

Please note that in this post I have made AN EXCEPTION to my PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in the posts that I put up about USA politics. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me having voted in USA elections.