Heinrich Statement On Charlottesville

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement regarding the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia:

“This weekend's events have truly shocked me as much as they have the rest of the nation. Three people lost their lives and scores were wounded during the 'Unite the Right' rally that was organized and attended by a volatile combination of neo-Nazis, white supremacists and others that make up the 'alt-right'.

“But it wasn't just the deplorable violence and murder that was so shocking, it was also the sense that President Trump was reticent to condemn white supremacists for who they really are. Sure, he has said that he opposes violence, but for days it was clear that he did not want to reject the twisted and hateful beliefs that unite this disgusting movement.

“For most of us they are a sick, racist subculture that we only encounter in history books or the movies. But for President Trump they are a part of his political base that he is sheepish about criticizing and whose connections run directly through White House adviser Steve Bannon, who ran the alt-right publication Breitbart.

“The President of the United States should serve as an example for the rest of the country, but it appears that the rest of us have to serve as an example for him.

“We should all join those that had the courage to stand up to these racists in Charlottesville, VA and do what President Trump should have done from the very beginning: condemn white supremacists and their hateful rhetoric.”