Civil and Human Rights Coalition: Trump Remarks Insufficient, More Needs to Be Done

WASHINGTON - August 14, 2017 – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement following President Trump's remarks today, two days after the fact, condemning the white supremacist-led violent extremism in Charlottesville on Saturday:

"It is a sad state of affairs when it's a news story that the President of the United States condemns racism and white supremacy.

Two days after the fact, President Trump has at long last, directly and personally, condemned the white supremacist rallies and violent extremism that occurred in Charlottesville. While today's delayed words are welcome, they should have been spoken on Saturday. This unconscionable delay has undermined his moral credibility as our nation's leader.

Today's words must be followed by action. He must stop advancing policies that seek to divide this nation. Supporters of white supremacists, violent extremism, racial bigotry, and neo-Nazis should not serve in the White House or at any level of government. The president should fire Stephen Bannon and Sebastian Gorka or any staffers who stoke hate and division.

People in America deserve a government that is committed to ensuring we live up to our highest ideals, not exploit racial and ethnic tensions to divide us. It's time to abandon the hateful rhetoric and anti-civil rights policy agenda that is damaging the fabric of our society."

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.