Some politicians from the region are criticizing President Donald Trump for his brief remarks on the events in Charlottesville, Virginia Saturday, that left one dead after a suspect drove a car into a crowd of counter protesters.
The counter-protesters clashed with those participating in the "Unite the Right" rally, billed as a protest to speak out against the removal of a Confederate monument.
Democratic Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal said in a statement:
“President Trump's words today were nothing more than a dog whistle to the people whose hateful ideologies spurred violence that left one dead and many more injured.”
The Republican president condemned the hatred and violence but said “many sides” are to blame. He did not single out white supremacists.
Governor Cuomo, a Democrat, is asking New Yorkers to sign a petition asking the president to publicly denounce white supremacist groups. He said Sunday:
"After the deadly and ugly events in Charlottesville I am calling on President Trump to clearly and unequivocally condemn and denounce the violent protest organized by the white supremacists and neo-Nazis, including Richard Spencer and Jason Kessler, with support from David Duke. President Trump must immediately call this for what it is - no cover, no euphemisms.
"This was a terror attack by white supremacists."
Democratic New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in part:
“Each of us—especially those of us in public office—has a moral obligation to condemn these actions in the strongest of terms. False equivalencies between "sides" simply provides cover to the white supremacists seeking to take our country backwards and tear our communities apart.”
Republican Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker tweeted Saturday:
"E Pluribus Unum - out of many, one. This is who we've been & who we must be. Hatred & bigotry have no place here."
Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders tweeted:
"The white nationalist demonstration in #Charlottesville is a reprehensible display of racism and hatred that has no place in our society."
New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said in a statement in part:
“The chaos and tragic loss of life in Charlottesville are a warning and a wake-up call. Violence and intolerance are taking the place of place of discourse in our nation. All leaders, particularly the White House, must call out domestic terrorism and white supremacist hatred by name. Failure to confront and condemn the disease only helps it grow.”
Two state police officers were also killed in a helicopter crash Saturday.
The FBI and federal prosecutors have begun investigating the events.
