Jewish Caucus Condemns “Unite the Right Rally” and President Trump’s Response

The California Legislative Jewish Caucus condemns the violent and hateful message espoused by participants of the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. 

Last weekend, white supremacist groups in Charlottesville took us back to the 1920s when a small group of people marched in Germany blaming Jews and immigrants for society's problems.  Less than two decades later, Adolf Hitler's hateful ideology resulted in the Holocaust -- the targeted genocide of Europe's Jews, killing six million -- and the deaths of millions of others targeted because of their identity.

President Trump said there were good people who attended last weekend's rallies. What the world witnessed was neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan and white supremacists shouting anti-Semitic and racist chants while holding torches, swastikas and Confederate flags. Militias with semi-automatic rifles in fatigues were present sowing fear and intimidation throughout the community and our country. These are not good people.

Albert Einstein said, "The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." We cannot and will not stand silently by as Trump gives voice to organizations steeped in an ideology of bigotry, hate and violence. President Trump's words betray American values and morality. We demand the President call out these groups and individuals and condemn their behavior. We are a better nation and people than that. As our President, he must demonstrate to the nation and the world that he will not stand idly by in the face of such hatred, bigotry and violence.

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