How A White Power Rally in Charlottesville Turned Deadly
Just as crowds began to disperse from downtown Charlottesville, a vehicle plowed into demonstrators marching against the white supremacist gathering.
REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
Following a protest held by several hundred torch-wielding white nationalists who clashed with counter protesters on the University of Virginia campus Friday, security concerns intensified ahead of a “Unite the Right” rally planned for Saturday.
If you're just waking up and missed it, torch wielding white nationalists marched on a church in Charlottesville VA last night. pic.twitter.com/ATnNb7Kp8k
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) August 12, 2017
PHOTOS: #UniteTheRight torch rally at UVa ends at the Rotunda and in violence. #Charlottesvillehttps://t.co/5p1b2cDP5k pic.twitter.com/cdXa7PtiuE
— The Daily Progress (@DailyProgress) August 12, 2017
A lot of businesses in downtown Charlottesville with these signs. pic.twitter.com/fyebIpgqnF
— Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) August 12, 2017
Reporters live-tweeted from the protest Friday night, and continued to document the increasingly violent protests and counter-protests in Charlottesville.
Just to be clear, UVA is not in session. Marchers were from all over. No idea if any were UVA students. (Though Spencer is a graduate)
— Joe Heim (@JoeHeim) August 12, 2017
Sign outside of a restaurant in downtown Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/eYDt9x8RUs
— Joe Heim (@JoeHeim) August 11, 2017
#Charlottesville 9:56pm 🔘 CHANTS: "One people, one nation, end immigration" & "blood and soil" pic.twitter.com/FbM1N8Ie1r
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) August 12, 2017
a car just mowed down a group of antiracist protesters in #charlottesville on @thehill livestream.
— nick estes (@nick_w_estes) August 12, 2017
Exactly at noon, when rally was set to start, cops have cleared the park. Have a feeling this isn't the end tho pic.twitter.com/vyewmbeBZl
— Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) August 12, 2017
A meme circulated on Twitter after an image was released of the white nationalists rally on Friday night.
When you're just super-concerned about jobs. pic.twitter.com/k2mG0VjlE0
— Sara Benincasa (@SaraJBenincasa) August 12, 2017
Open mic night at the Whitesplain Improv pic.twitter.com/08yppu7gVe
— Sami Shah (@samishah) August 12, 2017
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency Saturday after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville erupted into violent clashes before the rally even began.
Governor McAuliffe has declared a state of emergency to aid state response to violence at Alt-Right rally in Charlottesville
— Terry McAuliffe (@GovernorVA) August 12, 2017
Many politicians are weighing in, and condemning, the white supremacists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville.
To the white nationalists descending on Charlottesville: go back to where you came from. Hate has no place in Va. https://t.co/N20CRZ3Fr4
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) August 11, 2017
Nothing patriotic about #Nazis,the #KKK or #WhiteSupremacists It's the direct opposite of what #America seeks to be. #Charlotesville
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 12, 2017
The views fueling the spectacle in Charlottesville are repugnant. Let it only serve to unite Americans against this kind of vile bigotry.
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) August 12, 2017
The white nationalist demonstration in #Charlottesville is a reprehensible display of racism and hatred that has no place in our society.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 12, 2017
First lady Melania Trump condemned the violence on Twitter, tweeting, “Our country encourages freedom of speech, but let's communicate w/o hate in our hearts. No good comes from violence.”
Our country encourages freedom of speech, but let's communicate w/o hate in our hearts. No good comes from violence. #Charlottesville
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) August 12, 2017
President Trump followed suit roughly 45 minutes later, tweeting, “We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one.”
We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017
Am in Bedminster for meetings & press conference on V.A. & all that we have done, and are doing, to make it better-but Charlottesville sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017
As the crowds began to disperse from downtown Charlottesville, however, a vehicle plowed into demonstrators marching against the white supremacist gathering , leaving at least four injured counter-protesters in its wake.
One was confirmed dead, and 19 were injured, according to The Associated Press.
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WARNING, THIS VIDEO IS GRAPHIC.
Video of car hitting anti-racist protestors. Let there be no confusion: this was deliberate terrorism. My prayers with victims. Stay home. pic.twitter.com/MUOZs71Pf4
— Brennan Gilmore (@brennanmgilmore) August 12, 2017
Folks said counter protesters were hit by a vehicle as they turned the corner. Medics are here. #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/qQAIRy7YSN
— ACLU of Virginia (@ACLUVA) August 12, 2017
#Charlottesville latest:
— Justin Miller (@justinjm1) August 12, 2017
- 1 dead
- 19 injured
- Trump condemns violence on "many sides"https://t.co/KLt2EJjlqh
In remarks to the press from his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, President Donald Trump blamed "many sides" for the violence in Charlottesville. "We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides," Trump said, adding the country needs to return to "law and order."
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement that the Department of Justice is assisting law enforcement in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Statement from Attorney General Sessions: pic.twitter.com/HZ8JwC2rPt
— Betsy Woodruff (@woodruffbets) August 12, 2017
Senator Cory Gardner, a Republican from Colorado, called out President Donald Trump over his statement.
Mr. President - we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism. https://t.co/PaPNiPPAoW
— Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) August 12, 2017
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