Dave Matthews Band Respond To “Racist, Hate-Filled Terrorism” In Charlottesville Hometown

Dave Matthews Band Respond To “Racist, Hate-Filled Terrorism” In Charlottesville Hometown

White nationalists held a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia yesterday to protest the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue, and the march turned violent when a car intentionally plowed into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing one woman and injuring dozens more. Many artists have already responded to the horrifying tragedy, and now Dave Matthews Band, born and bred in Charlottesville, have issued a statement on their website. Read it below.

We are all disgusted by the acts of racist, hate-filled terrorism in our hometown this weekend. Like so many our hearts are broken. Our thoughts go out to the families and victims of these unbelievable acts. This is not the Charlottesville we know and love. This town has grown from its sometimes great but often difficult history and is marching toward an inclusive future. This murderous act and those who incited it are not what we aspire to be. We will work tirelessly, hand-in-hand with our community to help one another so we can all heal from this sickening display of horror. Hate speech disguised as free speech is cowardly and shameful. Such speech gives permission to the murderous crimes we witnessed today. There is nothing pure, acceptable, or philosophical about Nazism, or racism masked as heritage.

The multicultural tapestry that is America must come together, acknowledge our very difficult but remarkable history. We must move away from the racist and ignorant elements of our past toward an inclusive, kinder, more intelligent future.

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