Three years ago, we saw a group of white nationalists descend onto Charlottesville, VA for the deadly “Unite the Right” rally.

Emboldened by the racism and xenophobia coming out of the White House, these white supremacists were demonstrating against the removal of a confederate statue. Unfortunately, the rally culminated in a white supremacist mowing down counter-protestors with his car and killing Heather Heyer.

Heather’s last public Facebook post said, “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.”

I’m outraged. I’m outraged that President Trump refused to condemn this violent white supremacy and instead called them “very fine people.” I’m outraged that just over a year ago, a white nationalist similarly motivated by the president's anti-immigrant rhetoric was responsible for an attack on our own El Paso community in the largest massacre of Latinos in U.S. history. I’m outraged that white nationalism continues to be on the rise in America.

We can't just hope that the tragedy of Charlottesville doesn't happen again—we have to dedicate ourselves to the work necessary to ensure that. That starts with electing leaders who won't traffic in white supremacy, nor stand idly by as others do.

In service,

Gina Ortiz Jones

Paid for by Gina Ortiz Jones for Congress

Gina Ortiz Jones was a member of the United States Air Force. Use of her military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of Defense.