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Charlottesville rally exemplified perpetual racism in US: Researcher

Tuesday, 22 August 2017 2:35 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 22 August 2017 3:00 PM ]

Randy Short

The violent rally by white supremacists, neo-Nazis and other racist groups in Charlottesville, Virginia, earlier this month was the latest example of the perpetual racism in the US against African Americans and other minorities, a researcher and historian in Washington says.

The deadly clashes incited by neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and other “white terrorist organizations” are a continuation of activities and actions that have "promoted a larger ideology of white supremacy that is as old as the presence of English speaking whites in what we now call America,” said Randy Short, who has a Ph.D in African studies.

“What we saw [in Charlottesville] is on a certain level a continuation of terrorism, violence and intimidation that has happened [since] time immemorial in America,” Short told Press TV.

The white supremacists, neo-Nazis and KKK members participating at the "Unite the Right" event in Charlottesville were protesting against the removal of Confederate monuments and memorials, which many critics believe are symbols of hate and racism.

A 32-year-old woman was killed and 19 others were injured when a 20-year-old Nazi sympathizer plowed his car into a crowd taking part in a counter-protest.

Such events are “hurtful” to blacks and minorities and take place when people believe white Europeans are superhuman and other races are subhuman, Short said.

“Unfortunately, until someone stops these people, until either the government or the masses of people and groups that are not treated like human beings take action, I can assure you they’re likely to see more violence, more hatred, more bloodshed directed against blacks, Muslims, Jews, Asians [etc],” he added.

“This is, in a sense, very much a part of America.”

Human rights experts have warned about the rising racism and xenophobia in the United States, citing the rally in Charlottesville as the latest example.

US President Donald Trump has come under increasing pressure over his stance on the racial violence, with many members of his own Republican Party and US business executives distancing themselves from him.

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