Charlottesville Chaos: Leaders Chime In (LIVE UPDATES)
/LATEST UPDATE: Christian Leaders React To Charlottesville Chaos; Enter Twitter Firestorm
We cannot renounce what we will not name. It's called White Supremacy. And it is from hell. Call it. Condemn it.
— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) August 13, 2017
LOS ANGELES — Leaders all over the United States are responding via social media to an overnight and ongoing eruption of demonstrations and violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, including the death of one person run over by a person driving a car on Saturday.It is reported that violent clashes between white nationalists and counterprotesters began prior to a Unite the Right rally that was being held to protest the planned removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The city of Charlottesville voted to remove the statue earlier this year, but it remains in the Emacipation Park, formerly known as Lee Park, pending a judge’s ruling expected later this month, according to the Washington Post. Police have ordered hundreds of people out of a downtown park, resulting in the cancellation of a noon rally, according to reports.Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency shortly before 11 a.m., blaming the violence on “mostly out-of-state protesters.”“I am disgusted by the hatred, bigotry and violence these protesters have brought to our state over the past 24 hours,” McAuliffe (D) said."I am heartbroken that a life has been lost here. I urge all people of good will — go home," Signer wrote on Twitter. He did not provide details as to how the death occurred.The following are posts by leaders in the Christian and political world in response to the events at Charlottesville:UPDATE: 9:04 PM PT
Pray for the injured and those who lost loved ones in #Charlottesville today. Pray for law enforcement--and for peace.
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) August 13, 2017
UPDATE 3:41 PM PT
If the only time u preach on race or racism is when there is a racial flare up, you are missing the reconciling work of Jesus. Eph 2:11-22
— Derwin L. Gray (@DerwinLGray) August 12, 2017
Published 1:30 PM PT
Healing begins when infection is cleaned out. #Charlottesville needed to happen so more people realize our nation isn't "post-racial"! 1/2
— D.A. Horton (@da_horton) August 12, 2017
Anyone who marches for #racism marches against the grace of God and the goodness of God.
— James Merritt (@drjamesmerritt) August 12, 2017
Extremism is the lowest level of intelligence.
— Erwin McManus (@erwinmcmanus) August 12, 2017
We must never allow freedom of speach to allow evil to run free.
— Erwin McManus (@erwinmcmanus) August 12, 2017
If you must appeal to "white supremacy" you clearly have not achieved supremacy in any endeavor or arena in your life.(I'll stop soon).
— Erwin McManus (@erwinmcmanus) August 12, 2017
Our country encourages freedom of speech, but let's communicate w/o hate in our hearts. No good comes from violence. #Charlottesville
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) August 12, 2017
Amen, James! https://t.co/GteihHiy5h
— Greg Laurie (@greglaurie) August 12, 2017
Photo: Screengrab of Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesUPDATE 2:25 PM PT
As @POTUS Trump said, "We have to come together as Americans with love for our nation... & true affection for each other." #Charlottesville https://t.co/UXDZ67cLGS
— Vice President Pence (@VP) August 12, 2017
UPDATE 3:15 PM PT
Racism is anti-Gospel. It has no place in the heart of a believer.
— Ron Edmondson (@RonEdmondson) August 12, 2017
UPDATE 3:25 PM PT
— Ronnie Floyd (@ronniefloyd) August 12, 2017
White supremacy and its movements are evil to the core and are to be condemned. There is no place for this in America
— Jack Graham (@jackngraham) August 12, 2017