The ADC has condemned in the strong possible terms the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville in which neo-Nazi groups, Ku Klux Klan members and alt right activists gathered to prevent the removal of a statue of Confederate leader Robert E. Lee. In the violent clashes with those opposed to the rally, a car plowed into a crowd of counterprotesters leaving a 32 year-old woman dead and 19 others injured. The white-supremacists chanted Nazi slogans such as “blood and soil” and “Jews will not replace us”, and carried torches and symbols of Nazi Germany. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency and said, “I have a message to all the white supremacists and the Nazis who came into Charlottesville today: Our message is plain and simple. Go home. You are not wanted in this great commonwealth.”
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“This tragic episode is another reminder that white supremacy and its repugnant brand of racism and violence is a growing threat to our core values and way of life. The virus of intolerance that these group represents must be vigorously challenged on all fronts, and denounced as the evil that it represents—that of Nazism. Silence and inactions are not an option. All good people and leaders must come together, here in Australia and across the world, to send the unequivocal message that such repulsive displays of hate will never find a home in any democratic society and will be fought whenever and wherever they surface. We send our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim and wish the injured a full and speedy recovery.”
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on 9272 5677.