Celebrities, political figures and more took to Twitter on Saturday to express their outrage over a planned white nationalist rally in Charlottesville., Va.
Men dressed in militia uniforms were seen carrying shields and openly carrying long guns at the rally, which right-wing blogger Jason Kessler planned to protest the city’s decision to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Hundreds of rally supporters and counter-protesters clashed at the rally, with reports of people screaming, chanting, throwing punches and using chemical sprays on each other Saturday morning.
Charlottesville officials declared a local emergency shortly after 11 a.m., and Hollywood was quick to comment. The violent day left three dead, dozens injured and a usually quiet college town a bloodied symbol of the nation’s roiling racial and political divisions.
Actor Seth Rogen pulled no punches, tweeting, “By the way, fuck these nazi motherfuckers.” Several celebrities, including author J.K. Rowling, condemned President Donald Trump for not immediately responding to the rally. “Hell of a day for the President to forget how to tweet,” she wrote.
Trump later did tweet, saying, “We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!”
The president, while on a working vacation at his New Jersey golf club, later addressed the nation Saturday. Trump did not single out any group, instead blaming “many sides” for the violence, and was swiftly criticized for not denouncing white supremacists.
First lady Melania Trump also commented, tweeting out, “Our country encourages freedom of speech, but let’s communicate w/o hate in our hearts. No good comes from violence.”
On Sunday, Ivanka Trump tweeted that “there should be no place in society for racism, white supremacy and neo-nazis.”
Former President Barack Obama quoted Nelson Mandela on Twitter.
See more reactions below.
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion…” pic.twitter.com/InZ58zkoAm
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 13, 2017
“People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love…”
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 13, 2017
“…For love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 13, 2017
1:2 There should be no place in society for racism, white supremacy and neo-nazis.
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) August 13, 2017
2:2 We must all come together as Americans — and be one country UNITED. #Charlottesville
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) August 13, 2017
Every Congressperson who fails to denounce the supremacists in #Charlottesville & who does not condemn Trump’s silence, is complicit in hate
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) August 12, 2017
Not one word about the mosque attack or #Charlottesville
Silence instead of leadership
Trump is complicit
Trump is a coward
Trump is weak— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) August 12, 2017
Where were the police!? Why were they not there to protect the public from these bigots #Charlottesville
— Jamie Chung (@jamiechung1) August 12, 2017
Hell of a day for the President to forget how to tweet. pic.twitter.com/ABffmwwH8D
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 12, 2017
Guess who will not be condemning the white supremacist rally in #Charlottesville
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) August 12, 2017
It’s getting harder and harder to explain to my mom that everything is going to be ok.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) August 12, 2017
This is shocking, but none of this is surprising. We all know we’ve been headed here for a while.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) August 12, 2017
“The truth is: we are living at this time. And we are tolerating it.” #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/U4qBQl93qV
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) August 12, 2017
Mr. President?
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) August 12, 2017
Overheard: One guy saying “this makes me feel like going home and putting my robe on.” And I don’t think he’s a judge. #Charlottesville
— Katie Couric (@katiecouric) August 12, 2017
By the way, fuck these nazi motherfuckers. #Charlottesville
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) August 12, 2017
Our country encourages freedom of speech, but let’s communicate w/o hate in our hearts. No good comes from violence. #Charlottesville
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) August 12, 2017
Genuine question: How do we react to this rally in a way that makes them feel it’s a failure? It seems they feed on condemnation & anger.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) August 12, 2017
We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017
Let’s be clear. The hatred we’re seeing in Virginia lies at the feet of Donald Trump. Stoked during the campaign,his silence condones this.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) August 12, 2017
I stand with @POTUS against hate & violence. U.S is greatest when we join together & oppose those seeking to divide us. #Charlottesville https://t.co/p76Y9xQCPL
— Vice President Pence (@VP) August 12, 2017
Dear anyone shocked by #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/2AH0Pvl1HY
— Justin Simien (@JSim07) August 12, 2017
Am in Bedminster for meetings & press conference on V.A. & all that we have done, and are doing, to make it better-but Charlottesville sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017
My heart is heavy as I watch what’s happening in #Charlottesville. This is NOT the American Way. https://t.co/6Av8ylR8Uk
— Norman Lear (@TheNormanLear) August 12, 2017
These assholes and their tiki torches are the softest, most butthurt pile of fulminant human insecurity ever assembled. Thread of the day: https://t.co/Qaey822saC
— David Simon (@AoDespair) August 12, 2017
Come together as one: Even you losers-haters-Mexican rapists-“heroes” who were captured-women who are less than 10’s-the lyin’ & low-energy! https://t.co/W5nfDUQn4y
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) August 12, 2017
My heart is in Charlottesville today, and with everyone made to feel unsafe in their country.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 12, 2017
But the incitement of hatred that got us here is as real and condemnable as the white supremacists in our streets.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 12, 2017
It’s sad what’s going on in Charlottesville. Is this the direction our country is heading? Make America Great Again huh?! He said that
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 12, 2017
How tragic that this is what we’ve come to. My prayers are w those in Charlottesville & every American who is the target of hate & violence.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) August 12, 2017
Try to twist these words. I am proud to stand up for what I believe in. pic.twitter.com/QtRj69tbqJ
— Sarah Hyland (@Sarah_Hyland) August 12, 2017
Stand against racism. Here’s how to locate a vigil near you. #Charlottesville https://t.co/Ax7mCcfhZX
— NCLR (@NCLRights) August 13, 2017
