US senator from Indiana condemns Charlottesville violence

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - A U.S. senator has visited a Holocaust museum in western Indiana to speak out against the violence in Charlottesville.

Republican U.S. Sen. Todd Young of Indiana condemned the "hate, bigotry and violence" as he spoke at a luncheon for Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce members Thursday, the Tribune-Star reported .

"There is just no place for that in the United States of America," Young said. "It's un-American. It's anti-American in this pluralistic country. That should not be controversial in the year 2017."

Young also visited the CANDLES Holocaust Museum, which was founded by Auschwitz survivor Eva Kor. Kor said she's also against the groups but that she is focusing on a message of forgiveness.

"Can I do anything to change it? So you know what? I forgive all of them," she said. "I do have control over how I relate to it. ... Can you imagine if we had 100,000 people who said to these monsters, 'We forgive you - you don't know what you are doing.'"

Kor said she finds peace in forgiveness and that she hopes to teach others from her approach.

The visit was Young's first trip to Terre Haute since he became a senator in January. He also stopped at the Wabash Valley Health Center and the Hamilton Center.

Young posted on social media twice in recent days to express his stance against white supremacist groups. He had previously tweeted that "we must condemn and marginalize white supremacist groups, not encourage and embolden them."

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Information from: Tribune-Star, http://www.tribstar.com