US Senate approves resolution condemning white supremacist groups

Washington, Sep 12 (IANS) The US Senate has passed a resolution condemning white supremacist organisations and urging President Donald Trump to speak out against hate groups, the media reported.

The resolution introduced last week cleared the upper chamber by unanimous consent on Monday night, reports The Hill magazine.

The resolution formally gained the backing of 57 senators, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, before it passed.

The Senate measure formally condemns "the violence and domestic terrorist attack" that occurred last month around a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In addition to urging Trump and the administration to publicly push back against hate groups, the resolution urged Trump and his Cabinet to "address the growing prevalence of those hate groups in the United States".

According to the resolution, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the Department of Homeland Security should investigate "all acts of violence, intimidation and domestic terrorism" by white supremacists, white nationalists or associated groups and prevent them "from fomenting and facilitating additional violence".

Trump received widespread criticism for his response to violence in Virginia last month, including his remarks on what he called "alt-left" and white nationalist groups and there were "very fine people" on both sides, The Hill magazine reported.

The rally began began as a protest against the Charlottesville City Council’s decision to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, but turned violent and led to the death of one counter-protestor.