Mormon church decries intolerance after Virginia clash

White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency and police dressed in riot gear ordered people to disperse after chaotic violent clashes between white nationalists and counter protestors. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Mormon church is joining other organizations in condemning the racism displayed during a white supremacist rally Saturday in Virginia that spiraled into deadly violence.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in a statement Sunday: “People of any faith, or of no faith at all, should be troubled by the increase of intolerance in both words and actions that we see everywhere.”

The Utah-based religion pointed to a speech given more than a decade ago by late church president Gordon B. Hinckley, in which he said people who make disparaging remarks about other’s race can’t be considered true disciples of Christ.

Charlottesville descended into violence Saturday after white nationalists clashed with people who came to protest the rally. One woman was killed and others injured when a car rammed into a crowd of anti-white nationalist protesters.

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