President Donald Trump reverted to characterizing events in Charlottesville as a clash of two sides – Nazis and other white nationalists on one side, people who oppose Nazis and other white nationalists on the other side.
LeBron James:
Hate has always existed in America. Yes we know that but Donald Trump just made it fashionable again! Statues has nothing to do with us now!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 15, 2017
The protests and counter-protests in Charlottesville emerged over the decision to remove a statue of Robert E. Lee, a general who led a war against the United States by a group of states that wanted to protect the racist institution of slavery.
And LeBron is right: There have always been people in this country who hate – people who sustain the hate Lee’s Confederate army fought to preserve. Many of them feel empowered by Trump.
In an optimistic slant, maybe this will force us to confront the deep-seeded hate that too many refused to believe still exists.