{"id":100129,"date":"2017-08-14T19:06:19","date_gmt":"2017-08-14T19:06:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/08\/14\/vets-groups-decry-hatred-racism-in-wake-of-charlottesville-violence\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:52:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:52:14","slug":"vets-groups-decry-hatred-racism-in-wake-of-charlottesville-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/veterans\/2017\/08\/14\/vets-groups-decry-hatred-racism-in-wake-of-charlottesville-violence\/","title":{"rendered":"Vets groups decry hatred, racism in wake of Charlottesville violence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Army officials say man charged with driving his car into a crowd, killing one and injuring 19, was released from active-duty after four months in 2015<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Veterans groups on Monday forcefully rejected the views of neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups following reports that the Charlottesville extremist who drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters briefly served in the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe disgusting displays of hatred and bigotry on display in Charlottesville dishonor all veterans who fought and died to stamp out fascism,\u201d American Legion National Commander Charles Schmidt said in a statement two days after the violent protests in Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAmericans fought fascism and crushed the Nazis in WWII, and anyone who waves a Nazi flag on our soil is, by very definition, anti-American.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extremists groups clashed with counter-protesters during a \u201cUnite the Right\u201d rally designed initially to protest the removal of Confederate monuments from public spaces. But participants at the rally displayed Nazi and racist paraphernalia, and chanted offensive slurs during the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two Virginia state troopers were killed in a helicopter crash responding to the violence caused by the event. In addition, a 32-year-old woman was killed when James Alex Fields Jr., 20, sped his car into a crowd of counter-protesters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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James Alex Fields Jr. was charged with second-degree murder and other counts after authorities say he rammed his car into a crowd of protesters on Aug. 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Va. (Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fields was charged with second-degree murder and is being held without bail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement released Monday, Army officials confirmed that Fields reported for basic military training in August of 2015 but was released from active-duty four months later \u201cdue to a failure to meet training standards.\u201d He was never assigned to a unit outside of basic training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several other extremists seen at the rally sported U.S. military and veteran gear, though their military status remained unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A number of prominent veterans groups decried the violence and the rationale behind it, saying that hate speech and discrimination are unacceptable in all forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vietnam Veterans of America president John Rowan issued a statement noting that \u201cif there are any VVA members who harbor any of these bigoted ideologies, they are encouraged to turn in their membership cards. We did not don the uniform and serve our country to enable the acceptance of intolerance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also said that the hate groups\u2019 \u201cbigoted ideology must be resisted by all true patriots.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America called the actions of the extremists \u201cdetestable,\u201d \u201ccowardly\u201d and \u201cun-American.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVeterans come from all backgrounds, represent the diversity of America and have stood together against our enemies overseas,\u201d said Paul Rieckhoff, founder and CEO of IAVA. \u201cAnd we will stand together now against intolerance, hatred and violence here now at home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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People fly into the air as a vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. (Ryan M. Kelly\/The Daily Progress via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

President Donald Trump \u2014 who faced criticism for not calling out the hate groups in earlier statements condemning the violence \u2014 on Monday took a harsher tone similar to that of the veterans groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRacism is evil,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are a nation founded on the truth that all of us are created equal. We are equal in the eyes of our creator. We are equal under the law. And we are equal under our Constitution. Those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n