Attempting to fill the void left by Donald Trump’s silence, Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah denounced the white supremacist demonstration from Friday night in an early-morning tweet today.
In the post, the GOP senator said the ideas spewed by this hate group “have no place in a civil society.”
Their tiki torches may be fueled by citronella but their ideas are fueled by hate, & have no place in civil society. https://t.co/himqTMBQnH
— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) August 12, 2017
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Hatch’s strong condemnation of Friday’s march came before today’s gathering in Charlottesville, where two competing groups – the alt-right Nazis and counter-protesters – continue to clash in the streets at this hour.
While the sometimes-violent white supremacist group chanted phrases like “white lives matter” and “you will not replace us,” the counter-protesters refused to stoop to such levels, instead using their marches to spread a message of unity and tell the alt-right group that “love has always won.”
Meanwhile on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., the President of the United States has done something he refuses to do on most other issues: Remain silent.
If more leaders from across the country – particularly those in the Republican Party – continue to denounce the indefensible rhetoric and acts of violence being carried out by the white supremacist groups that helped fuel Trump’s candidacy, perhaps the president will have no choice but to speak out against them.
But his silence as tensions rise in Virginia has already spoken volumes about how he really feels.
Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.