Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday said counter-protesters, many of them leftist anti-fascist groups, were not to blame for the violent rally in Charlottesville, Va. this past weekend.
“The violence in Charlottesville was not caused by the ‘alt-left,’ (whatever that may be),” Sanders, I-Vt., said in a tweet. “It was caused by Neo-Nazis and white supremacists.”
The violence in Charlottesville was not caused by the “alt-left,” (whatever that may be). It was caused by Neo-Nazis and white supremacists.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 15, 2017
Sanders comment came after Trump told reporters at Trump Tower on Tuesday “there is blame on both sides” for violent protests in Charlottesville this past weekend organized by white nationalist groups, reverting to his original position on the matter.
Under political pressure, Trump on Monday singled out “KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups” for condemnation, after neglecting to name the groups in his initial statement on Saturday.
On Tuesday, Trump said the media has not sufficiently criticized “alt-left” groups that also participated in the Charlottesville rally.
He said there are “fine people” on both sides, along with some “bad people.”
