Charlottesville

A vast majority of Americans are disgusted by white supremacism, so it should not be a surprise that the media blames one side for the violence in Charlottesville. But there is a third side that deserves the blame here. The police failed to separate the groups.

First, revolting as their message may be, the demonstrators have a right to demonstrate. We cannot allow their rights to be taken away by counterprotestors. Imagine the sides were reversed. If this were Selma, I think we can agree it would be wrong to allow white citizens to block the marchers or spray them with mace.

If we continue to shut down legal demonstrations, as so many colleges are doing, the wider alt-right movement could turn into an insurrection with guns instead of sticks. Then we all lose.

Trump is right that there are bad people on both sides. That is just human nature. But the overall blame should rest solely on the police.