John Kasich speaks out against white nationalists
‘There is no place in America for this violence and viscious hatred’
On Friday night a group of white nationalists marched on the University of Virginia carrying torches and in some cases firearms. Protestors included members of the Klu Klux Klan who were opposed to the plan to remove a statue of Robert E. Lee from a city park.
Ohio Governor John Kasich was quick to speak out against the white nationalist group in a series of tweets Saturday. Kasich was one of the first Republicans to call out the white nationalists for their white supremacy.
These groups are corrupting our country's greatness. America can and must be better.
This violence and hate must stop. 2/
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) August 12, 2017
Other Republicans quickly followed suit, asking President Trump to label the group for what they are.
Mr. President – we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism. https://t.co/PaPNiPPAoW
— Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) August 12, 2017
Very important for the nation to hear @potus describe events in #Charlottesville for what they are, a terror attack by #whitesupremacists
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 12, 2017
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 (@RosLehtinen) August 12, 2017
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
— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) August 12, 2017
The white nationalist group and members of the Klu Klux Klan had already planned a rally for Saturday off campus. As tensions escalated a group of counterprotestors, including some students, got into a scuffle with the white nationalists.
Shortly after the governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, declared a state of emergency a car driven by a Toledo man, James Alex Fields Jr., plowed into the crowd killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer. Heyer was a member of the counterprotests. Fields also injured 19 others before he fled the scene. He has since been arrested.
Our thoughts go out to those injured at the rally and affected by these tragic events.