The violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, revived a painful past for minorities and the activists who once led the civil rights movement.
Bernard Lafayette is a former head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He says he was dispirited to see Americans fighting to preserve Confederate imagery or displaying Nazi symbols. Many others say President Donald Trump’s response to the violence only fanned racial flames.
Trump’s initial statements on Saturday blamed violence on “many sides.” Two days later, he condemned white supremacists. On Tuesday, he lashed out at the counter-protesters who had been in Charlottesville.
The president also questioned whether removing public tributes to Confederate figures would result in similar treatment for statues of George Washington or Thomas Jefferson - both slave owners.
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