JOHN PATRICK: LABOR MOVEMENT WILL FIGHT RACISM, ANTI-SEMITISM, OTHER FORMS OF HATRED AT EVERY TURN

The Texas AFL-CIO joins a mourning nation in condemning the senseless deaths of a young activist and two law officers in Charlottesville.

  Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old paralegal standing up to the intimidation tactics of white supremacists, was killed when a neo-Nazi allegedly drove a vehicle into a crowd of counter-protesters. Virginia State Troopers H. Jay Cullen and Berke M.M. Bates died in a helicopter crash while responding to the riots.

  Texas AFL-CIO President John Patrick said:

  "We condemn the armed white supremacists and neo-Nazis who set the stage for and carried out the acts of terrorism that took place in Charlottesville." 

  "Nothing anyone can say can take away the horror of what we witnessed yesterday, but in times like this we look to our leaders to comfort us, bring us together and shape our moral response as a nation. Sadly, the President failed miserably in those tasks. He glossed over 'Sieg Heil' salutes, KKK symbols, Confederate flags and other evidence of hatred in suggesting that 'all sides' were somehow to blame." 

  "Instead of sending in the Justice Department, President Trump left room for David Duke to praise him and gave comfort to extremists who can claim with plenty of justification that they have a valued place in his presidency. At his most crucial moment in this tragedy, with the eyes of the nation on him, this president failed miserably."

  "As we grieve for those who lost their lives, with all our hearts the labor movement redoubles our commitment to fighting racism, anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred at every turn. We will never be divided in turning toward the lights of justice for all and solidarity."