โYou had a group on one side that was bad, and you had a group on the other side that was also very violent. And nobody wants to say that, but Iโll say it right now.
โWhat about the alt-left that came chargingโฆ at the, as you say, the alt-right? Do they have any semblance of guilt? (โฆ) There are two sides to a story.โ
He is correctย that there is an alt-left as well as an alt-right, the anarchists and โantifa[scist]โ groups that have been stirring up violence in their โresistanceโ to President Trump. ย But what was called for in this particular instance is disavowing the neo-Nazi violence and condemning racism. ย And, politically, to disassociate himself from people like that. ย Which he didnโt.
The ugliness at Charlottesville goes beyond politics.
At the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, white nationalists staged a torch-light procession reminiscent of Hitlerโs Nuremberg rallies, complete with sieg-heil salutes, swastika banners, and chants against the Jews. ย They were opposed by black-garbed masked protesters waving red banners, the sort known for smashing windows, trashing stores, and burning cars. ย Inept police crowd control failed to separate the two groups, which surged towards each other in violent melees. ย And then one of the neo-Nazis drove his car into the crowd of protesters, killing Heather Heyerย and injuring dozens. ย See this for details and for some horrendous photos and videos.
As has been said, the rally and the street fighting areย reminiscent of the Weimar Republic! ย Is this what our country is being reduced to? ย This is what social breakdown looks like.
Illustration from Bob Mical, Downtown Charlotte, Flickr, Creative Commons License