We Must All Unite Against Hate

This weekend’s violence against people who uphold the values of a democracy grounded in racial equality is a tragic reminder of how the words, actions and silence of one man can ignite racial hatred. Make no mistake about this, the violence and the loss of life lies squarely with Donald Trump. His pretense of ignorance of white supremacists during his campaign, his hiring of white nationalists in the White House, and his intentional refusal to denounce white supremacist violence immediately after the events in Charlottesville nurtures and feeds into a segment of the country that yearns for a race war.

Our sympathies go to the family of those who died and those who are recovering from injury. Like the counter-protestors in Charlottesville we must all stand against this evil and this hatred. We stand for inclusion, equality, and tolerance.

And we must demand that Donald Trump must clearly and unequivocally reject white racial superiority. His silence on this on Saturday is applauded by white supremacists. His silence on this feeds into a false narrative that whites in American should fear demographic change. His silence on this is politically opportunistic but morally corrupt and anti-American.

By Juan Cartagena

Juan Cartagena is the President and General Counsel of LatinoJustice PRLDEF.