A pair of Eagles joined those criticizing President Trump for his response to Saturday's horrific events in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Safety Malcolm Jenkins and defensive end Chris Long took issue with Trump, who condemned the violence but did not directly censure the white nationalists holding the rally.
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred bigotry and violence on many sides," Trump said during a press conference Saturday. "On many sides."
This would be a moral layup yet you go with "on many sides." Unreal. https://t.co/Cb5XjFmrdH— Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) August 13, 2017
Jenkins, who last year joined Colin Kaepernick to protest racism and social injustice, referenced Trump's stern warning last week to North Korea, in which he promised to answer further threats with "fire and fury like the world has never seen."
Today would've been a good time to use your "fire and fury like the world has never seen" Don't tell me you're getting soft on terrorism now https://t.co/OaFHyJbTfl— Malcolm Jenkins (@MalcolmJenkins) August 13, 2017
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Incited by the decision to remove a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee, white nationalists held a "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville and were met by counter-protesters. The scene turned so violent Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency and the National Guard was called to help police.
"I have a message to all the white supremacists and the Nazis who came into Charlottesville today: Our message is plain and simple. Go home. You are not wanted in this great commonwealth," McAuliffe said.
The clash, per The New York Times, had been dispersed without any major injuries until a car plowed into a group of counter-protesters, killing one and injuring at least 19 others. Police arrested 20-year-old James Alex Fields, Jr. and charged him with second-degree murder, among other charges.
Two state police officials died when a police helicopter crashed southwest of Charlottesville. The cause of the crash is undetermined, but foul play is not suspected.
Information from NBC News and The New York Times was used in this report.
