"To build on President Trump’s August 14 statement [condemning the episode of Charlottesville), his administration should reverse its decision to eviscerate the mandates and budgets of US civil rights institutions; end its attempt to exclude white nationalism from the federal government’s Countering Violent Extremism programs; end immigration and refugee policies based on anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant sentiment; and remove Stephen Bannon and Sebastian Gorka, administration appointees with known links to or a history of encouraging the white nationalist movement," said HRW.

In a statement to the media on August 14,  US President Donald Trump finally condemned racism and racist violence, including by “the K.K.K., neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups.”

His remarks followed a public outcry for his failure to speak out following the August 12 violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, in which an alleged white supremacist crashed his car into counter demonstrators, killing Heather Heyer, 32, and injuring 19 others. Two Virginia state troopers also died in a helicopter crash while monitoring the events and 15 others were injured in related clashes.

"Since taking office, the Trump administration has severely weakened civil rights institutions and protections, changed US immigration and refugee policy based on dangerous generalizations about immigrants and Muslims as criminals and terrorists, and covertly and overtly encouraged racism and xenophobia. President Trump’s statement can become a touchstone for the way ahead if backed by genuine and dramatic shifts in these administrative policies and practices that have exacerbated the climate of hate against racial minorities and immigrants in the United States," HRW said.

"A country’s leaders have a special responsibility to uphold the fundamental values of equality and non-discrimination. And while freedom of speech and assembly are hallmarks of a democratic society, including even hateful and offensive expression that does not incite violence, leaders should consistently and robustly condemn expressions of prejudice. For President Trump, this responsibility includes publicly and unequivocally rejecting support from individuals and groups that foment hatred in his name.

"Going forward, the Trump administration needs to demonstrate leadership so that the US, state, and local officials can consistently and forcefully move to quell racist and xenophobic discrimination and violence wherever it occurs. Those who are targets of violence in the name of hate need to be confident that the government will be there to protect their fundamental rights," it said.