Vice President Pence on Sunday called the violence that broke out in Charlottesville, Va., during a white supremacist rally a tragedy, saying he stood by President Trump's initial statement against the hate demonstrated by those at the event.

"Yesterday President Trump clearly and unambiguously condemned the bigotry, violence, and hatred which took place on the streets of Charlottesville," Pence said. "Our hearts go out to the victims of violence that ensued, to the family of the young woman who lost her life, the families of the two police officers who fell in the line of duty, and all those who were injured."

The Department of Justice would have the full support of the Trump administration so the people found to be responsible for the violence would be held account under the law, Pence said.

Pence added he took issue with the criticism Trump received from the national media for his handling of the charged situation.

"We have no tolerance for hate and violence from white supremacists, neo Nazis or the KKK," Pence said. "We should be putting the attention where it belongs, and that is on those extremist groups that need to be pushed out of the public debate entirely and discredited for the hate groups and dangerous fringe groups that they are."

Pence made the comments during a joint press conference with President Juan Manuel Santos in Cartagena, Colombia, as part of his visit to the country.

"President Santos' son just graduated from the University of Virginia, and the president himself spoke on that campus," Pence said. "What occurred there, as local and state officials have said, is in no way a reflection of the good and decent people of Charlottesville or of America."