There is a huge furore going on in America over the Charlottesville incident. Anxiety has gripped residents of Charlottesville, many of whom are Indian Americans. The unrest is persisting after a rally of white supremacists ended in clashes with counter-protesters and claimed the life a woman. The Indian Americans have condemned US President Donald Trump’s remarks blaming “both sides” for the Charlottesville violence and termed his defence of neo-Nazi groups and white supremacists as a ‘disgrace’. US President Donald Trump had come under fire from both Republicans and Democrats for his muted response to the violence unleashed by white supremacists during a rally in Charlottesville in Virginia in which a woman was killed and 19 others were injured when a car ploughed into a crowd of counter-protesters.

Charlottesville violence

The violence broke out ahead of the ‘Unite the Right’ rally by white supremacists protesting against the planned removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E Lee from a park in the college town of Charlottesville, 256 kilometres from Virginia. General Robert E Lee commanded the pro-slavery Confederate forces during the American Civil War. Massive violence broke out after they were confronted by anti-racism groups and later a car ploughed into one group of anti-racism protesters killing one woman and injuring at least 19 others.

The deceased has been identified as Heather Heyer.

Heyer, 32, who was a paralegal, was protesting against the demonstration channelised by white supremacists. The woman was killed when a car rammed into a crowd of counter-protesters.

The 20-year-old driver of the car has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

What Indian-Americans are saying on the Charlottesville incident

Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said the US knew the price of hate too well to deny it, to marginalise it, or to accept David Duke’s twisted view of the world.

Congressman Ami Bera said the violence in Charlottesville was an example of what happens when politicians tolerate hatred and bigotry.

“It is incredible to me that it is newsworthy in 2017 that the president of the United States has condemned racism and white supremacy,” Vanita Gupta, president and chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights told podcast Cape Up.

“The people in Charlottesville who opposed the alt-right movement should not be attacked by the president,” said Neera Tanden president and CEO of the Center for American Progress.

Trump had blamed both sides including the “alt- left”.

“I think there’s blame on both sides. If you look at both sides – I think there’s blame on both sides. I have no doubt about it, and you don’t have any doubt about it either. And if you reported it accurately, you would say,” Trump had said.

Meanwhile, former KKK leader David Duke hit out at Trump for condemning the violence. In a series of tweets Duke questioned why Trump, whom he usually supports, is attacking white Americans who put him in the presidency.