Civil rights organizations hold march in Atlanta in response to Charlottesville rally
ATLANTA - Several civil rights organizations came together to condemn Saturday's violence and rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and march in the streets of downtown Atlanta.
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Leaders from Bend the Arc Jewish Action, Color of Change, Human Rights Campaign and Muslim Advocates gathered Saturday night to condemn the violence.
The organizers of the rally say they will urge President Trump to call the rally a "white supremacist convention."
Brandi Collins, the Campaign Director of Color of Change, Jonathan Lipman, the Chief Strategy Officer of Bend the Arc Jewish Action, Ben Needham, the Director of Project One America Human Rights Campaign, and Scott Simpson, the Public Advocacy Director for Muslim Advocates, will be in attendance.
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“We condemn – in the strongest of terms – the racism, hatred, and bigotry that is on display from white supremacist groups in Charlottesville," said Needham. "It is clear that all of our fights – against racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and Islamophobia – are inextricably linked. We stand in solidarity with those whom these racists are targeting in Charlottesville and around the country. Donald Trump’s refusal to clearly condemn white supremacists, white nationalists, neo-Nazis, and the ‘alt-right’ is a failure of leadership and once again prove him to be unfit to serve.”
Statements will be made at the Netroots Nation Conference at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta. A march to city hall will follow the statements.
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“At Color Of Change our hearts, minds, and prayers are with the people of Charlottesville and the state of Virginia," said Collins. "What happened in Charlottesville is an act of terrorism pure and simple. This is one all too familiar to our country’s history. We’re standing with the peaceful protesters in Charlottesville, with our 1 million members across the country and with everyone tonight heartbroken like us. Let’s work together to ensure that tomorrow we don’t continue to replicate the horrors of the past thank you.”
Hundreds of people joined the march as the night went on, as the event ended at City Hall, where speakers told the crowd the changes they believe need to come from the incidents in Virginia.