Over this last weekend, Charlottesville, Va., faced a heartbreaking circumstance.

In case you remain unaware of the situation that took place, counter protesters were run down by a car at a white supremacist rally.

Now, my initial reaction to all of this was actual tears. I cried because I am somebody who would counter protest a white supremacist rally. The people who were injured and killed in this horrific terror attack (yes, you read that right, I said terror attack, because that's what this was) were people I would have protested with if given the chance.

After crying some over the loss and hurt of these beautiful souls, my emotions quickly shifted to anger. Anger that somebody could so easily run over people solely for holding different views and take lives for this. Anger that somebody could be so inconsiderate of others loved ones. Anger that white supremacy rallies are still happening in 2017 America, in Donald Trump's America. Speaking of Trump, my mind shifted to our dear President. Where was he to denounce this horrific tragedy?

The next day, I went to church with my mom. My pastor stood in front of my whole congregation, and proudly denounced and shamed white supremacy, white nationalism, and Nazism as the dirty words they are. He explained to us that in order to denounce these horrific things, we must call them by name. When he said those words, I realized that I had been quick to avoid calling them out by name. I had been fearful to infringe on first amendment rights and I had been fearful to name these ghastly disgusting acts of hatred and violence.

White supremacy and Nazism should not be tolerated in this country. To believe that one person is greater than another because of their skin color, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, or any other uncontrollable trait is sickening. Discrimination should not be the language of our land of the free. Hatred should not be what runs through the deepest veins of America.

The country we live in now should be ashamed of itself. Many are defending the Nazis who showed up this weekend, which is leading more and more white supremacists to feel comfortable showing their faces and true colors in daylight.

Here is the thing: White supremacists, Nazi's, white nationalists, racists, the KKK? All of those people and the people who associate with those lines of thinking should be afraid to be seen. They should be petrified to be known as a Nazi, to be known as a white supremacist. But for some strange reason, they are growing more and more comfortable being known as that.

Why?

Because an environment where they can be comfortable is slowly being created. We need to tear apart this environment where they are unworried about being exposed as hateful bigots. And the first step to making them uncomfortable again is to speak up.

White supremacy is not "their right." Nazism is not "just a way of thinking." White nationalism isn't "harmless." These ways of thinking are cancerous to our country and our society. These ways of thinking should be stamped out and destroyed, and the people who think this way should be ashamed to think that way.

This is not a political issue. This is a decent human being issue. This is an ethics issue. This is a morals issue. So I will not remain silent and hope it goes away any longer. Nobody should anymore. This is our time to use our voices and speak out against the hatred and bigotry we see, and we should use this time to speak as loudly as possible. We will not go back.