University student leaders across the country – including Iowa State Student Body President Cody West – are joining in solidarity to condemn the actions in Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday.

@ISUStuGovPres West joined other student body presidents from across the nation to condemn the hateful protests at the #UVA. #WeStandWithUVA pic.twitter.com/NZDdsegGAv

— ISU Student Gov (@ISUStuGov) August 13, 2017

Charlottesville was host to a “Unite the Right” rally over the weekend in which thousands of white nationalists gathered to protest against the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee from a Charlottesville park.

The rally led to counter-protesting – and a clash between the two groups –resulting in the death of one 32-year-old woman and at least 19 injured after a car rammed into a crowd of counter-protestors. 

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe also issued a state of emergency as a result of the violent demonstrations.  

Governor McAuliffe Statement on Emergency Declaration in Response to Violence in Charlottesville https://t.co/1ec5Ct2xGi

— Terry McAuliffe (@TerryMcAuliffe) August 12, 2017

“We are deeply saddened by the events that have occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia,” the letter of solidarity from the student body presidents read. “We stand with the students of University of Virginia, as what affects one of our campuses affects us all.”

On Friday evening, roughly 100 white nationalists marched on the University of Virginia campus carrying torches and chanting Nazi slogans. 

“College campuses are spaces that students should be able to call home, not places of violence, hate and racism,” the letter read. “Students should always feel welcome and safe at our incredible higher education institutions, never having to fear for their personal well being.”

The letter was signed by more than 40 student body presidents including neighboring universities such as the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and several Illinois colleges. 

“As the voice of our students, we collectively call on one another to speak up in the face of injustice, as silence reduces us to bystanders in oppression,” the letter read. 

Together, we condemn these hateful protests and what they stand for. This is not a free speech issue, it is a hate issue. #WeStandWithUVA https://t.co/DddsYqSaQc

— Cody Smith (@mrNeat95) August 13, 2017

The letter promoted support for not just the University of Virginia but “to make clear our advocacy for the victimized and marginalized students on all our campuses.”

“We will continue to support students and universities in their peaceful resistance to violence, racism, white supremacy, bigotry and acts of terrorism on our own campuses and beyond,” the letter read.