Attorney General Jeff Sessions defended President Donald Trump’s statements on the violent protests in Charlottesville this weekend, saying Trump gave a “strong” condemnation of all the violent actors involved.
“He made a very strong statement that directly contradicted the ideologies of hatred, violence, bigotry, racism, and white supremacy,” Sessions said Monday on NBC’s Today show. “And you can be sure that this Department of Justice in his administration will use the most vigorous action to protect the right to protest.”
Trump tweeted a condemnation of the violence Saturday, and the White House released a statement Sunday condemning the the Nazi and KKK presence at the “Unite the Right” rally, which was held at Emancipation Park. Many, however, are criticizing Trump’s statements as an unsatisfactory condemnation of white supremacy. (RELATED: Charlottesville Mayor Blames Trump For Unrest)
“We need to find out what happened, and we need to study it and see what, as a nation, we can do to be more effective against this kind of extremism and evil,” Sessions said.
Sessions also said he expects the president to speak out again against the extremists involved as the aftermath unfolds.
“He will be speaking to the people today, and he has been firm from the beginning. He is appalled by this,” the attorney general said.
Between 2,000 and 6,000 white nationalist protestors gathered in Charlottesville on Saturday to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The city dispersed the rally after violence erupted between the white nationalists and anti-fascist counter protestors. Two Charlottesville police officers were killed during a helicopter crash connected with the violence, many were injured, and at least one died after a car driven by a white nationalist plowed into a group of anti-fascists.
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