In response the events in Charlottesville and President Donald Trump’s responses, Florida AFL-CIO President Mike Williams had the following remarks:

“The Florida AFL-CIO condemns the disgusting display of hatred and bigotry our nation saw by neo-nazi and white supremacist groups in Charlottesville this past weekend.

It is an absolute disgrace that taking a resolute stance against white supremacy would be so difficult for our President.

For Florida’s labor movement, there is no mincing of words or shifting of blame. Our message is clear, there is no place for this type of hatred in our nation.

We stand with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka’s decision to leave the Manufacturing Advisory Council in the wake of President Trump’s continued attempt to draw a moral equivalency between those who hate and those who show the courage to fight back against it.

Labor’s history has proven again and again that the way to defeat the forces of bigotry are by exercising our freedom to stand united in our workplaces and speak up in our communities. The Florida AFL-CIO is dedicated to build on that legacy, and will continue to fight for a better future for all Americans.”