Charlottesville 'Unite The Right' Rally: Local Reactions Come In About Death, Violence

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Reactions came in about the death of a 32-year-old woman Saturday in Charlottesville, VA and the hours of violent clashes that occurred between white nationalists, neo-Nazis, members of the alt-right and counter-protesters. The “Unite the Right” Rally was staged to oppose the removal of a statue of General Robert E. Lee, who led the Confederate forces during the Civil War.

Heather Heyer, of Charlottesville, was killed when a Dodge Challenger allegedly driven by Alex Fields Jr., 20, of Maumee, OH, plowed into a crowd of counter-protesters. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

There were also multiple injuries.

Rep. John Faso, R-Kinderhook, said he was confident that the Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute and hold accountable the people responsible for the death and injuries.

“All Americans — and particularly those in positions of leadership — must reject hate groups such as white supremacists, neo-Nazis, the KKK and others which have no legitimate place in our political and societal discourse.”

Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Harrison, said her heart was with the victims of the Charlottesville violence and that she condemned the acts in no uncertain terms.

“In the United States of America, no one should ever be kill or gravely harmed for exercising freedom of speech,” she said. “Those who committed hateful violence and domestic terrorism, taking one woman’s life while injuring and threatening many more, must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Lowey said it was the responsibility of all Americans, including the highest elected officials, to reject the hate that engenders fear and perpetuates violence in our communities, “and give it no cover through weak criticisms, false equivalencies and complacency.”

In the wake of the events in Charlottesville, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Monday allowing prosecutors to increase penalties against those who make bomb threats against community centers.

“The horrific events in Charlottesville this weekend demonstrate that now, more than ever, we must stand united against bias and hate in all of its forms and this new law is one more step toward a more just and more equal New York for all,” he said.

The SUNY Student Assembly President March Cohen issued a statement on behalf of some of his colleagues from the executive committee and the 600,000 student constituents in New York.

He said institutions of higher education are in many ways temples of public discourse that embody the marketplace of ideas.

The events in Charlottesville began Friday night with a torch-wielding march by white nationalists through the campus of the University of Virginia.

They were met by a group of counter-protesters and a clash ensued, which was broken up by authorities.

Cohen said, “It is clear that the ideas being conveyed by white nationalist groups in Virginia are anything but thoughtful and meaningful. To the contrary, they are hateful, bigoted, hurtful and counterproductive. They are a dark specter of the worst part of our nation’s history and have no place in contemporary society.”

He said, “We will not fall victim to the hatred and bigotry displayed by the violent extremists because we know that diversity is our greatest strength and that exclusion is a sure path to defeat. We reject these ideas, we condemn them, and we encourage everyone to engage them, disprove them and publicly defeat them.”

Rockland County Executive Ed Day said he watched with shock as the violence tore through Charlottesville.

“To be clear: Hate has no place in Virginia or Rockland County or anywhere in our great nation,” he said. “White supremacists, white nationalists, Nazis, neo-Nazis and all other hate groups are not welcome in our community,” he said.

Day said his father and three uncles fought against the Nazis in World War II.

“At the same time, let’s remember that generations of Americans have gone to battle to fight for our right to free speech,” he said.

“Our Constitution gives us the right to protest, but it does not give anyone the right to incite violence,” Day said.

Photo: Flowers and other mementos are left at a makeshift memorial for the victims after a car plowed into a crowd of people peacefully protesting a white nationalist rally earlier in the day in Charlottesville, Virginia, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Photo by Steve Helber/Associated Press.