Trump faces backlash in wake of Charlottesville, US braces for more

No Sidebar

Trump faces backlash in wake of Charlottesville, US braces for more

U.S. President Donald Trump is facing widening backlash over his response to last weekend’s race-fueled violence in the state of Virginia. This, as more rallies and counter-protests are planned for the weekend.

CGTN’s Roee Ruttenberg explains the safety measures being taken as cities prepare for more demonstrations.

Just one week after the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia turned violent, officials in Boston are bracing for a possible repeat of clashes.

One person died and nearly 20 were wounded on Saturday, Aug. 12, when protesters confronted armed far-right neo-Nazis and white supremacists who descended on the liberal university town.

Boston’s Mayor says: They’re not welcome there.

“The governor and I made it very clear we don’t want hate groups to come to our city or our state,” Martin Walsh said. “We will not tolerate any incitement to violence. We are taking every precaution necessary to keep our city safe.”

The Boston rally was actually planned before the Virginia clashes. But the number of people expected to attend has surged in recent days, following the violence, and U.S. President Donald’s Trump blaming of “both sides.”

Trump’s comments were met with criticism and backlash. Business leaders left two of his economic advisory councils that were subsequently disbanded. On Friday, his entire arts council resigned.



Meanwhile, more national charities are scrapping plans to hold their annual fundraisers at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida residence — often dubbed the southern White House.

And a top media figure – James Murdoch, CEO of 21st Century Fox, which owns Fox News – is the latest executive to criticize Trump’s response to Charlottesville- saying it concerns, “all of us as Americans” and announced privately he would donate $1 million to an American group fighting anti-Semitism.

Top Democratic lawmakers are now calling for the President to be censured – a type of formal Congressional rebuke. Former Vice President Al Gore has called on Trump to resign.

President Trump isn’t bending to the criticisms. But some are already suggesting that the departure of White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon –- who reportedly had ties to the American far-right –- may be at least in part a concession to those critics.