ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland’s Republican governor has criticized President Donald J. Trump’s comments blaming “both sides” for racially charged violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.
As he kicked off Wednesday’s Board of Public Works meeting, Gov. Larry Hogan said, “Over the weekend, I reached out and called Governor McAuliffe to offer our full support as Virginia dealt with the tragedy in Charlottesville. We will continue to confront and condemn hatred, bigotry and violence.”
State Treasurer Nancy Kopp said in response to Hogan’s remarks,“Thank you for your comments about Charlottesville, and also about the statue,” referring to Hogan’s call to remove the statue of Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney from the State House grounds. “Leadership in Maryland is strongly united,” she added.
Comptroller Peter Franchot said his 95-year old father, a veteran of World War II, recalled his own experience of seeing people wearing Nazi insignias, marching through the streets with torches saluting Adolf Hitler. The weekend’s events in Charlottesville, Franchot said, left his father unable to believe what he saw.
Franchot said of the events of the past week, “These incidents serve as a sobering reminder that although we as a nation have made tremendous progress in promoting justice, understanding and equality, there’s more work to be done.”
Franchot credited Hogan for taking a stance on the events in Charlottesville and ended his remarks by saying “Good will always overcome evil and love will always overcome hate. Governor, thank you.”
The Baltimore Sun reports that the governor says Maryland will continue to condemn hatred, bigotry and violence. On Tuesday, he called for the removal of a Confederate monument from the front lawn of the State House.
After the meeting, Hogan called Trump’s remarks “a terrible mistake.” He said he called Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe over the weekend to offer Maryland’s “full support.”
Hogan is governor in a state with a Democrat-controlled General Assembly.
WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report.
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Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com
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