JCPA Statement Marking Seven Years Since Charlottesville

Seven Years Since Charlottesville, We Must Stand Together Against Extremism and Hate

This Sunday, August 11th and Monday, August 12th will mark seven years since the “Unite the Right” violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, when neo-Nazis and white supremacists marched with torches chanting “Jews will not replace us,” and violently targeted peaceful counter-protestors, ultimately killing Heather Heyer and injuring many others.

Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, previously led the organization that successfully sued the neo-Nazis and hate groups responsible for the Charlottesville violence.

She issued the following statement on this tragic anniversary:

“At the core of the Charlottesville violence were ‘replacement’ and ‘invasion’ conspiracy theories rooted in the lie that Jews are diluting white power through support for immigrants, communities of color, and others. In the seven years since, this extremism hasn’t just fueled a cycle of deadly violence – it has gone fully mainstream in our politics through dehumanizing rhetoric and policies.

“These increasingly normalized conspiracy theories directly spurred the mass shootings in Buffalo, El Paso, Pittsburgh, and Poway targeting the Black, Latino, and Jewish communities. On January 6, 2021, the same people who promoted that extremism – rooted in false claims of a conspiracy to steal the election – incited a violent insurrection. And now some of these same extremists are advancing Project 2025, which aims to ‘solve’ these dangerous ‘invasion’ and ‘replacement’ lies via mass deportations, ending programs focused on equity and inclusion, and rolling back civil rights.

“As Jews, we know precisely where this extremism leads – for us, for all communities, and for our democracy. There is a direct link between the embrace of these conspiracy theories and dehumanizing ideas — and real, political violence. The violence in Charlottesville seven years ago – and the cycle of extremism it previewed – makes crystal clear that when one community is unsafe, all of us are unsafe.

“Our safety and our futures are intertwined, and it demands that we fight this hate and extremism wherever it exists. That’s why JCPA is mobilizing with our partners through our new Action Networks, recognizing that Jewish safety is inextricably linked with the safety of all communities and a strong democracy that rejects extremism and hate.