‘Go home, and never come back’

Published 11:28 am Tuesday, August 15, 2017

The proliferation of hate resulted in the death of a woman and several being injured Saturday in Charlottesville.

Chaos, mayhem and violence came to the city’s downtown district when hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klan members sparred and fought with counterprotesters in the city, which lies in Albemarle County across the James River from Buckingham County.

One person was killed while several were wounded when a vehicle plowed through a crowded street Saturday.

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This occurred before two Virginia State Police staff were killed when a helicopter crashed near Charlottesville. No foul play is suspected in connection with the helicopter crash, according to police.

We wholeheartedly agree with what Virginia Gov. Terry McAullife said, addressing the white nationalists and their counterparts following the protests.

“Go home, and never come back,” he said.

The Heart of Virginia, and the commonwealth as a whole, is no place for those who wish to spew political, social, racial and religious dogma and take or invoke actions that cause harm to others — no matter where they’re from, who they love, the color of their skin or who they worship.

There’s no doubt or question that freedom of speech is a sacred amendment that is at the bedrock of democracy that deserves the utmost protection. Peaceful protest is an important facet of this freedom, but what happened in Charlottesville is most certainly not.

When actions based on one’s opinion directly results in the loss of life or injury — that’s certainly not protected under the first amendment.

We agree with what Prince Edward Commonwealth’s Attorney Megan Clark said during a prayer service Sunday.

“My mind is completely blown that people have worked so hard to get us to where we are, especially in this community,” Clark said, “and people are working against that and are trying to dismantle what has been done in terms of race relations in our country.”

Pray for those involved and affected by what happened Saturday.