by CNY Citizens In Action / Releases

UTICA – Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc,, Indivisible Mohawk Valley, Citizen Action of New York, and other groups will hold a rally at Oneida Square Roundabout in Utica at 5 p.m. Sunday, August 13 to stand in solidarity with the people of Charlottesville in response to today’s act of terror by white supremacists.

Local groups today condemned the terror attack on anti-racist protesters at a gathering of white supremacists, neo-Nazis, the KKK, and other racists in Charlottesville, Va.

John Furman, President of the Central New York Citizens in Action, said:

“We condemn this act of domestic terrorism targeting anti-racist protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, and ask all citizens to attend our rally to show support for the courageous people of Charlottesville who turned out to stand peacefully against hate. President Trump’s unwillingness to both denounce this act of terrorism and to specifically call out the white supremacist and racists groups by name represents a failure of moral leadership and courage. It also sends the wrong message to racist groups nationwide that they can act with impunity and undermine the fabric of our nation.”

Hundreds of neo-Nazis and white supremacists gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia yesterday and today, using the removal of a Confederate statue as an excuse to exhibit their violence. The people of Charlottesville, led by young people, students, and people of color, turned out to stand peacefully against this display of hate.

A person, now in custody, plowed a car directly into the crowd of peaceful counter-protestors, killing at least one and injuring at least 19 others. Trump has refused to use the term white supremacist or to condemn white supremacist violence.