August 8, 2018 — Washington, D.C.
The Greater Washington Urban League and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Washington Region call on civic, political and religious leaders to unequivocally reject the antisemitism and racism of the white nationalists who will gather for the “Unite the Right” rally in Lafayette Park on Sunday.
“Bringing such public hatred to our nation’s capital, near the White House, challenges all people of goodwill to condemn in the strongest possible terms the rally organizers. We will never be silent in the face of this kind of odious rhetoric in our country,” said Alan Ronkin, AJC Washington, D.C. Regional Director, and George Lambert Jr., President and CEO of the Greater Washington Urban League.
The hate rally comes one year after the same groups gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia for a similar rally that devolved into violence, with neo-Nazis chanting vile, threatening racist and antisemitic slogans, and Heather Heyer was tragically murdered.
“This gathering is a form of domestic terrorism,” said Lambert. "It intends to intimidate and incite violence against people of color, Jews and other minorities. This is not free speech and we will not tolerate it in our city.”
“American democracy and pluralism, cherished values that we all share, demand that we stand up and make our voices heard,” said Ronkin. “We must work together to build a society that confronts prejudice and promotes understanding.”
