Rauner calls Charlottesville violence ‘act of domestic terrorism’

Gov. Bruce Rauner condemned the violence that left one person dead and several injured at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

“The deadly violence in Charlottesville … is abhorrent and absolutely an act of domestic terrorism,” Rauner said in a statement. “The individuals responsible should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The “Unite the Right” rally was held to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E Lee. Counter-protesters also came to the event, and the two groups clashed. At one point, a man drove his car into a group of the counter-protesters, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer. The driver was later charged with second-degree murder.

Rauner categorized the violence as domestic terrorism and denounced the racist ideologies on display at the event.