Contact: Dawn Kettinger; 517-853-5519

The following statement regarding the violence in Charlottesville and the ongoing threat of Nazis and white supremacy to America’s health, safety and democracy should be attributed to John Armelagos, RN, president of the Michigan Nurses Association.

The Michigan Nurses Association condemns the KKK and Nazis whose violence led to the death of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville and the injuries of other peaceful protesters over the weekend.

Elected officials throughout our nation must, now and going forward, unequivocally renounce these white supremacists. The President’s attempt to reframe these events as “both sides” being at fault only emboldens more of their domestic terrorism.

No moral equivalency exists between those who tout hate, racism, and violence with those who defend tolerance, equality and civility. Shame on Trump for his failure to issue a clear rejection of the KKK and Nazis.

The Association calls for our members – as advocates for the health, safety and equality of all individuals – to eliminate racial disparities in health care and outcomes within our work settings and in our communities.

Because of the nursing profession’s foundation of caring and compassion, the Association also calls on all of us of good will to act decisively to confront this threat to our democracy.

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