The Senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning white nationalists, white supremacists, the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis, and other hate groups Monday night.
The resolution additionally requested the Trump administration to improve research on hate crimes and to address prevalence of hate groups.
Introduced by Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-V.A., Sen. Tim Kaine, D-V.A., Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-C.T., Sen. Cory Gardner, R-C.O., Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-G.A., and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-A.K., the resolution condemns “the violence and domestic terrorist attack that took place during events between August 11 and August 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia.”
President Trump faced backlash for his response to the violence in Charlottesville, which took the life of Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old woman who was killed by a man affiliated with a neo-Nazi group who drove into a crowd of counter-demonstrators in Charlottesville.
Trump said violence existed on “both sides.” The rally originally began as a protest against the city of Charlottesville for removing a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
The resolution requests Attorney General Jeff Sessions, along with the Department of Homeland Security, to investigate “all acts of violence, intimidation, and domestic terrorism by White supremacists, White nationalists, neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan, and associated groups.”
The resolution also expresses support for the community of Charlottesville “following these acts of violent bigotry.”
The resolution was also introduced to the House last week by Rep. Tom Garrett, R-VA, and Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-VA. The resolution will be sent to Trump if the House approves it as well.
