WildEarth Guardians

Thursday, August 24, 2017
White Supremacy Is Not Welcome Here

White Supremacy is an Ugly Part of Our Nation's Past and Present: We Must Eradicate It from Our Future
Contact: John Horning, (505) 795-5083, jhorning@wildearthguardians.org

Denver, CO – On Tuesday night, President Donald Trump shocked the conscience of the nation by defending white supremacists, saying that there were “some very fine people” among the white nationalist marchers in Charlottesville whose racist ideology led to the murder of Heather Heyer and the injuring of 19 others. Rather than denouncing racist violence, President Trump drew a moral equivalence between neo-Nazis and those standing against them. Trump has continued to spout white supremacist talking points, defending Confederate monuments in a series of tweets Thursday morning—at the same time that the Interior Department is trying to shrink National Monuments that protect our environment, archeological treasures, and natural heritage. In response, WildEarth Guardians’ Executive Director John Horning issued the following statement:

“President Trump has further disgraced the presidency by lending aid and comfort to white supremacists and neo-Nazis. His comments, suggesting moral equivalence between people filled with hate and those who stand against them cannot be tolerated by a nation built on the idea that we are all created equal. 

 “I am shocked by the recent events in Charlottesville and the rise in hate groups around our country. Further, I am saddened that the President legitimates hate groups, giving oxygen to a toxic virus. His words condoning racism and anti-Semitism are an affront to our democracy and the dignity of all humankind.

 “We mourn the loss of civility in our national discourse and at the same time we condemn the words and actions of racists and bigots who gathered in Charlottesville last weekend. Monuments to individuals who supported slavery and fought against our country are a stain on our nation and must come down.

 “Our nation’s greatest monuments are not built to people. Our nation’s enduring monuments are our ideals. The Declaration of Independence; The Constitution; Our National Monuments and Parks; and the belief that all people are created equal.

 “WildEarth Guardians celebrates the diversity that is the hallmark of our nation. Just as diversity is a strength in ecosystems so too is it a strength of our national identity. We stand in solidarity with those who are confronting bigotry, racism, fascism and all other ways of thinking that deprive human beings of the dignity and respect we all deserve.”