In the wake of the first anniversary of the violent 'Unite the Right' rally in Virginia's Charlottesville, United States President Donald Trump on Saturday said that he condemned "all types of racism and acts of violence."
Taking to his official Twitter handle, Trump said, "The riots in Charlottesville a year ago resulted in senseless death and division. We must come together as a nation. I condemn all types of racism and acts of violence. Peace to ALL Americans!"
According to the Hill, Trump has been under considerable pressure to condemn the violence last year as well as to hit out at the white supremacist rally that is scheduled to take place in Washington D. C. and Charlottesville, where a state of emergency has been declared by authorities, on Sunday to mark the anniversary of last year's violent rally.
Trump was faced with a lot of flak over the comments he made after the rally last year wherein he said there was "blame" and "very fine people" on "both sides" of the protests.
D. C. police have ramped up their security measures, with police chief Peter Newsham and Mayor Muriel Bowswer declaring a ban on guns at the rally, while also saying that protestors and counter-protestors will be kept separate.
White supremacists were protesting against the removal Confederate General Robert E. Lee's statue when hundreds of counter-protestors gathered, resulting in violent clashes between the two groups.
32-year-old Heather Heyer was killed, with dozens others were left injured after a car slammed into a group of counter-protestors in last year's violent incident.