Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on August 12, 2017

People are planning to gather on Boston Common Saturday evening for a vigil in the wake of a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., where an attack on peaceful counter-protesters killed at least one person and sent more than two dozen others to hospitals.

More than 150 people indicated on Facebook that they planned to attend the Boston Stands with Charlottesville vigil, which was organized by Boston Feminists for Liberation, according to the events Facebook page.

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The rally at the University of Virginia believed to be the largest gathering of white supremacists in a decade followed a call from a right-wing blogger for a pro-white rally in Charlottesville to protest the citys decision to remove a statue of confederate General Robert E. Lee.

Oren Segal, who directs the Anti-Defamation Leagues Center on Extremism, said multiple white power groups gathered in Charlottesville, including members of neo-Nazi organizations, racist skinhead groups, and Ku Klux Klan factions.

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After hours of silence on growing violence in Charlottesville, President Trump tweeted early Saturday afternoon, 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!

But Trump drew swift criticism for failing in his public statements to openly rebuke the white supremacists racist ideology, instead saying in a speech Saturday afternoon, We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides. On many sides.

Some white supremacists, including former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, who attended the rally, cited Trumps victory as validation for their beliefs.

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We are determined to take this country back, Duke said. Were going to fulfill the promises of Donald Trump.

The presidents critics pointed to Trumps racially tinged rhetoric as exploiting the nations festering racial tension. The Rev. Jesse Jackson noted that Trump for years publicly questioned President Barack Obamas citizenship. We are in a very dangerous place right now, he said.

Another alt-right rally is planned for Boston next Saturday, according to a Twitter post from Proud Boys USA, a group that opposes multiculturalism.

See the original post here:
Boston Common vigil planned to show solidarity with Charlottesville - The Boston Globe

Category: Anti-Defamation League
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