Today, under the rules of the Senate, I was given unanimous consent to make a statement on the floor regarding the tragic acts of intolerance and violence that occurred on Saturday in Charlottesville, Virginia. My statement is posted below:

“We in the Massachusetts Senate work long and hard to ensure that we reject hatred and intolerance and racism in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, in the United States of America and in our society. I rise to make a statement relative to events in Virginia this weekend. On Saturday, there were at least two rallies that occurred, one involving groups that are reportedly white supremacists and in those rallies and in that atmosphere of hatred and intolerance, there was tragedy. A 32-year-old paralegal from Charlottesville died and two State Police officers died in a helicopter crash because their service was required over the rally. Thirty-four other people were wounded in the clashes. It is incumbent on all of us to reject and repudiate acts of intolerance, hatred and violence and racism, whether its source be white supremacy or anything else. That is why I rise to condemn what happened this Saturday in Virginia and to say we must continue to stand as a Senate, as a Legislature, as a commonwealth and as a nation against hatred, violence, intolerance, and racism. I feel it is our solemn obligation to do so as Americans. We share a common sense of virtues that include freedom and justice and liberty for all. I appreciate the ability to rise in condemnation of these events and the sentiments that motivated those acts. I ask that at the conclusion of my remarks the Senate engage in a moment of silence to remember those who have been lost, to remember what is at stake if we do not thoroughly repudiate violence and to ensure our commonwealth does not tolerate those negative things and that the Senate continue to lead in that spirit. Thank you, Mr. President.”