Susan Bro, the mother of the Charlottesville victim who died when a driver smashed into a line of cars, pushing one into pedestrians, thanked President Donald Trump for "denouncing those who promote violence and hatred," according to a statement Monday provided to NBC News.

Susan Bro, mother of Charlottesville attack victim Heather Heyer, thanks Pres. Trump for "denouncing those who promote violence and hatred" pic.twitter.com/E46OnwE5fW — NBC News (@NBCNews) August 14, 2017

Trump said Monday the FBI and Justice Department were opening a civil rights investigation into the events that led to violent clashes between white nationalists and counter-protesters and, the death of Heather Heyer, who died after James Fields allegedly rammed his car into a sedan, which hit a minivan into a crowd of pedestrians.

"Racism is evil and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans," Trump said at a Monday news conference, his strongest reaction yet to the violence over the weekend that resulted in Heyer's death and the death of two Virginia state troopers.

"To anyone who acted criminally in this weekend's racist violence, you will be held fully accountable," Trump said. "Justice will be delivered. As I said on Saturday, we condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence. It has no place in America."

Trump was slammed over the weekend for not immediately condemning white nationalists or white supremacists by name in his initial reaction, but his statements Monday were more forceful.