Former Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush on Wednesday condemned bigotry and hatred on display in Charlottesville, Virginia, the day after President Donald Trump delivered controversial remarks blaming “both sides” for the violence that took place there this weekend.
The father and son presidential duo sent out a joint statement on Tuesday that said Americans must “reject racial bigotry, anti-Semitism, and hatred in all forms.”
The Bush’s full statement reads:
America must always reject racial bigotry, anti-Semitism, and hatred in all its forms. As we pray for Charlottesville, we are reminded of the fundamental truths recorded by that city’s most prominent citizen in the Declaration of Independence: we are all created equal and endowed by our Creator with unalienable right. We know these truths to be everlasting because we have seen the decency and greatness of our country.
The statement stands in contrast to Trump’s much-criticized statements following the violence in Charlottesville, which stemmed from a large group of white supremacists hosting a rally in the college town on Saturday. During the unrest, one woman was killed when a man with suspected neo-Nazi ties slammed his car into a group of peaceful counterprotesters.
Statement from Presidents @GeorgeHWBush & George W. Bush denouncing bigotry and hatred in all forms. pic.twitter.com/IYtAKEdt8Z
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 16, 2017
On Tuesday, Trump continued to condemn “both sides” of those involved in Charlottesville: racists and those opposing white supremacy.
“What about the alt-left that came charging at the, as you say, alt-right—do they have any semblance of guilt?” Trump said on Tuesday. “As far as I’m concerned, that was a horrible, horrible day … you had a group 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 I’ll say that right now.”
Trump also said both the white supremacists and counterprotesters contained “very fine people.”