Barack Obama's tweet condemning racism following the violent far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, has become the most-liked in Twitter history.
In the aftermath of the deadly attack on Saturday, the former president responded with a quote from Nelson Mandela. It read: "No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion."
"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion..." pic.twitter.com/InZ58zkoAmAugust 13, 2017
So far, the sentiment has been liked more than 3 million times, passing the 2.7 million for singer Ariana Grande's tweet in the wake of the bombing of Manchester Arena in May. Twitter has confirmed Obama's poignant message is also the fifth most re-tweeted post of all time.
Obama continued to call for peace in two more tweets which referenced the late South African leader. "People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love. For love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite," he wrote. Each post has received over one million likes and hundreds of thousands of re-tweets.
"...For love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." - Nelson MandelaAugust 13, 2017
James Alex Fields Jr., 20, was arrested after driving a car into a group of counter-protesters, which caused the death of a 32-year-old woman and left dozens injured. He's since been charged with second-degree murder. And two more people have been declared dead after a helicopter monitoring the rally crashed.
President Trump came under fire for his initial reaction to the clash between white nationalists and anti-racist protesters, which blamed "many sides" for the violence. On Tuesday, he once again blamed "both sides" during a press conference at Trump Tower.
"You had a group on one side that was bad, and you had a group on the other side that was also very violent," he said. "Nobody wants to say that but I'll say it."
Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
-
Blue Ivy Carter’s ‘Mufasa’ Makeup Is Causing ControversyAllow Black girls to experiment with beauty in peace.
-
Jennifer Lopez and Her Floor-Length Sleeves Single-Handedly Revive the Boho TrendThe star looked like a child of the '70s in a Chloé onesie.
-
Sabrina Carpenter's Micro Shorts Are a Slice of Fashion HistoryShe was brave to trot it out at the height of winter.
-
36 Ways Women Still Aren't Equal to MenIt's just one of the many ways women still aren't equal to men.
-
How New York's First Female Governor Plans to Fight for Women If ReelectedKathy Hochul twice came to power because men resigned amid sexual harassment scandals. Here, how she's leading differently.
-
Why the 2022 Midterm Elections Are So CriticalAs we blaze through a highly charged midterm election season, Swing Left Executive Director Yasmin Radjy highlights rising stars who are fighting for women’s rights.
-
Tammy Duckworth: 'I’m Mad as Hell' About the Lack of Federal Action on Gun SafetyThe Illinois Senator won't let the memory of the Highland Park shooting just fade away.
-
Roe Is Gone. We Have to Keep Fighting.Democracy always offers a path forward even when we feel thrust into the past.
-
The Supreme Court's Mississippi Abortion Rights Case: What to KnowThe case could threaten Roe v. Wade.
-
Sex Trafficking Victims Are Being Punished. A New Law Could Change That.Victims of sexual abuse are quietly criminalized. Sara's Law protects kids that fight back.
-
My Family and I Live in Navajo Nation. We Don't Have Access to Clean Running Water"They say that the United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Why are citizens still living with no access to clean water?"
