President Trump denounced all forms of racism and violence in a tweet Saturday morning, specifically mentioning the Charlottesville riots that occurred one year ago. The tweet comes ahead of a “Unite The Right” rally that is scheduled for this weekend in Washington, D.C.
The riots in Charlottesville a year ago resulted in senseless death and division. We must come together as a nation. I condemn all types of racism and acts of violence. Peace to ALL Americans!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 11, 2018
“The riots in Charlottesville a year ago resulted in senseless death and division,” Trump’s tweet read.
At last year’s rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, an alt-right protester deliberately drove his car into a group of counter-protesters. Heather Heyer, 32, died from the injuries she sustained, and 19 others were hurt.
The president also “[condemned] all types of racism and acts of violence.”
Trump received backlash for his response to Heyer’s death and the rally in general, last August. (RELATED: Virginia Governor Declares State Of Emergency Before Charlottesville Anniversary)
In a press conference hours after the attack last year, he stated, “we condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides.”
The “on many sides” phrase got him into hot water for supposedly equating the alt-right activists with the counter-protesters.
This year’s rally is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, and according to USA Today, the planners of the rally are expecting fewer people to attend.