Madmallard
.223 Rem
In the wake of the hateful language used and violence perpetrated by white supremacists in Charlottesville this weekend and the resulting emboldening of their voices, my fellow New Yorkers and I have a simple message: No.
No, President Trump, there can be no moral equivalence between white nationalists and activists who protest against racism.
No, there aren’t any “very fine” white supremacists. No “very fine” person marches beneath Nazi banners and no “very fine” person screams for “blood and soil.”
No, there are not “many sides” to the violence in Charlottesville. Hate has no sides, and violence has no place. The actions and speech of white nationalists, Nazis and KKK members are a poison to the soul of our country and serve only to diminish us as a nation.
No, it is not acceptable to wait days to denounce the symbols of hate, racism and bigotry held up on flags and banners on our American streets — symbols that are agonizingly painful for so many Americans, and so many people around the world.
No, we cannot ignore the murder of Heather Heyer. We must, in fact, call it what it is: an act of terrorism that took the life of a peaceful protester who came together in solidarity with her fellow Americans to denounce racism.
No, it is not acceptable to return to our great state of New York, a state founded on the values of equality and justice, the birthplace of the NAACP, to reiterate and intensify your statements of hateful sympathy for hateful people.
No, we will not allow anyone to pit us against one another — not when we know that it is our togetherness and unity that will bring forth a future worthy of the people of this country.
We will take action. In the immediate wake of the violence in Charlottesville, I announced the Charlottesville provisions, which reaffirm New York’s commitment to never tolerate the advocacy or the incitement of imminent violence against protected classes within our communities.
Such crimes would be added to the list of specified offenses under the state’s hate crimes law. Inciting to riot, a misdemeanor, would become a felony when committed with discriminatory aims. This legislation will help protect New Yorkers and sends a clear signal to the country that violence and discrimination have no place in our society.
New York has no place for Charlottesville-style hate
No, President Trump, there can be no moral equivalence between white nationalists and activists who protest against racism.
No, there aren’t any “very fine” white supremacists. No “very fine” person marches beneath Nazi banners and no “very fine” person screams for “blood and soil.”
No, there are not “many sides” to the violence in Charlottesville. Hate has no sides, and violence has no place. The actions and speech of white nationalists, Nazis and KKK members are a poison to the soul of our country and serve only to diminish us as a nation.
No, it is not acceptable to wait days to denounce the symbols of hate, racism and bigotry held up on flags and banners on our American streets — symbols that are agonizingly painful for so many Americans, and so many people around the world.
No, we cannot ignore the murder of Heather Heyer. We must, in fact, call it what it is: an act of terrorism that took the life of a peaceful protester who came together in solidarity with her fellow Americans to denounce racism.
No, it is not acceptable to return to our great state of New York, a state founded on the values of equality and justice, the birthplace of the NAACP, to reiterate and intensify your statements of hateful sympathy for hateful people.
No, we will not allow anyone to pit us against one another — not when we know that it is our togetherness and unity that will bring forth a future worthy of the people of this country.
We will take action. In the immediate wake of the violence in Charlottesville, I announced the Charlottesville provisions, which reaffirm New York’s commitment to never tolerate the advocacy or the incitement of imminent violence against protected classes within our communities.
Such crimes would be added to the list of specified offenses under the state’s hate crimes law. Inciting to riot, a misdemeanor, would become a felony when committed with discriminatory aims. This legislation will help protect New Yorkers and sends a clear signal to the country that violence and discrimination have no place in our society.
New York has no place for Charlottesville-style hate
