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Charlottesville: one dead after car rams counter-protesters at far-right gathering Charlottesville: one dead after car rams counter-protesters at far-right gathering
(35 minutes later)
A car rammed into a group of people peacefully protesting against a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Saturday, killing one person and injuring 19.A car rammed into a group of people peacefully protesting against a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Saturday, killing one person and injuring 19.
It came at the end of a day marked by violent clashes between far-right nationalists and people who had come to protest their occupation of a downtown park containing a statue of the Confederate general Robert E Lee.
Donald Trump condemned the “violence on many sides” in the city and the state’s governor has declared a state of emergency.Donald Trump condemned the “violence on many sides” in the city and the state’s governor has declared a state of emergency.
Witnesses said those hit by the car were people peacefully protesting the planned white supremacist rally and footage showed the vehicle crashing into another car, throwing people over the top of it.Witnesses said those hit by the car were people peacefully protesting the planned white supremacist rally and footage showed the vehicle crashing into another car, throwing people over the top of it.
The driver was later arrested, authorities said.The driver was later arrested, authorities said.
The unrest took place around a planned “Unite the Right” rally at the city’s Emancipation Park as fighting and scuffles broke out between the two groups. The photographer Pat Jarrett, who was close by when the incident took place, told the Guardian: “A gray Dodge Charger plowed into a sedan and then into a minivan. Bodies flew. People were terrified and screaming. Those closest to it said it was definitely a violent attack. The driver, who people later described as a skinny white guy with a straggly beard, reversed out of there and drove off, the front end of his car all smashed up.”
At least eight people were injured in the clashes and there has been at least one arrest related to those. The death was announced in a tweet by the Charlottesville mayor, Mike Signer, who wrote: “I am heartbroken that a life has been lost here. I urge all people of good will – go home.”
About two hours after the first clashes on Saturday, authorities were on the scene after a vehicle plowed into a group of people marching peacefully through downtown Charlottesville.
The photographer Pat Jarrett, who was close by when the incident took place, told the Guardian: “A gray Dodge Charger ploughed into a sedan and then into a mini-van. Bodies flew. People were terrified and screaming. Those closest to it said it was definitely a violent attack. The driver, who people later described as a skinny white guy with a straggly beard, reversed out of there and drove off, the front end of his car all smashed up.”
The governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, had earlier declared a state of emergency.The governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, had earlier declared a state of emergency.
On Saturday afternoon, Trump, speaking from Bedminster, New Jersey, at a scheduled event for veterans’ healthcare, said: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides.” Trump added that this has been “going on for a long time in our country. Not Donald Trump, not Barack Obama. A long, long time.”On Saturday afternoon, Trump, speaking from Bedminster, New Jersey, at a scheduled event for veterans’ healthcare, said: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides.” Trump added that this has been “going on for a long time in our country. Not Donald Trump, not Barack Obama. A long, long time.”
A White House spokesperson later amplified the president’s remarks, telling the Guardian: “The president was condemning hatred, bigotry and violence from all sources and all sides. There was violence between protesters and counter-protesters today.”
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!
The police declared an unlawful assembly alert and a spokesman for the force said the Virginia national guard “will closely monitor the situation and will be able to rapidly respond and provide additional assistance if needed”.The police declared an unlawful assembly alert and a spokesman for the force said the Virginia national guard “will closely monitor the situation and will be able to rapidly respond and provide additional assistance if needed”.
The clashes came despite police efforts to keep the rival protesters apart following a confrontation late Friday in the University of Virginia’s campus in which counter-protesters claimed they were hit by torches and pepper spray. The car attack came about two hours after state police in riot gear had cleared Emancipation Park, where far-right and white nationalist protest groups had gathered to protest the planned removal of a statue of Robert E Lee. The city’s decision in February to remove the statue drew earlier protests by the “alt-right” and the Ku Klux Klan.
On Saturday at the park, projectiles were thrown between the groups and some of those present could be seen pushing and throwing punches, or using pepper spray. At about 11.40am ET, after almost an hour of missile exchanges, gas attacks and intermittent face-to-face melees, police declared the Unite the Right assembly illegal and cleared the park with riot troops. The far-right groups were largely compliant, but they were forced to run the gauntlet of counter-protesters as they walked west along Market Street.
Police in riot gear were assembled nearby and initially stayed back from where the trouble was occurring before making the order for protesters to disperse.
Organizers of the far right rally had chosen the park because of its 20ft statue of the Confederate general Robert E Lee, which has been at the centre of other recent confrontations in Charlottesville.
By 11.15am ET, missiles such as empty bottles were being exchanged at the south-east end of the park. Far-right supporters formed a “Roman tortoise” shield wall at the gate. Counter-protesters cleared when a gas weapon was released.
Shortly later, smoke grenades were launched from the park into the crowd of counter-protesters. On both occasions, those in the street beat a hasty and uncoordinated retreat.
At around 11.40am ET, after almost an hour of missile exchanges, gas attacks and intermittent face-to-face melees, police declared the Unite the Right assembly illegal and cleared the park with riot troops. The far-right groups were largely compliant, but they were forced to run the gauntlet of counter-protesters as they walked west along Market Street.
WATCH: White nationalists and counter-protesters clash at Charlottesville rally https://t.co/4qH1yJjrGyWATCH: White nationalists and counter-protesters clash at Charlottesville rally https://t.co/4qH1yJjrGy
After a brief stalemate, a hard core of about 100 protesters relocated to McIntire Park, about two miles away from downtown, and gathered to hear speakers who had been scheduled for the Unite the Right event, which anti-extremists had feared could be the largest such gathering in years. After a brief stalemate, a hard core of about 100 far right protesters relocated to McIntire Park, about two miles away from downtown, and gathered to hear speakers who had been scheduled for the Unite the Right event.
One of the speakers, Richard Spencer, an “alt-right” activist, said he had been maced on the way into the park and lashed out at police and city authorities. “Never in my life have I felt like the government was cracking down on me until today,” said Spencer, who was flush faced. “We came in peace and we were effectively thrown to the wolves.” One of the speakers, the far right figurehead Richard Spencer, said he had been maced on the way into the park and lashed out at police and city authorities.
He said that “militarized police”, whom he compared to “stormtroopers”, “did not protect us, they funneled us towards the antifa ... I am a citizen of the USA,” he continued. “I have rights under our constitution.” “Never in my life have I felt like the government was cracking down on me until today,” said Spencer, who was flush-faced. “We came in peace and we were effectively thrown to the wolves.”
He left the park soon after with a security detail. He said that “militarized police”, whom he compared to “stormtroopers”, “did not protect us, they funneled us towards the antifa ... I am a citizen of the USA”.
Around the park, members of the alt-right were nursing and treating minor wounds. One of them, who declined to give his name, was bleeding from the head, and claimed to have been struck with an iron bar. Another young man, with a swastika tattoo on his chest and blood on his forehead, told photographers: “If you take my picture, I’ll cut you. I’m not even kidding.” He said that they would not back down from protesting against the statue. When he mentioned Mayor Signer by name, the crowd chanted “Jew! Jew! Jew!”
Spencer left the park soon after with a security detail.
Around the park, members of the far right were nursing and treating minor wounds. One of them, who declined to give his name, was bleeding from the head, and claimed to have been struck with an iron bar. Another young man, with a swastika tattoo on his chest and blood on his forehead, told photographers: “If you take my picture, I’ll cut you. I’m not even kidding.”
Arrests are being made following declaration of unlawful assembly at Emancipation Park in Charlottesville. #cvilleaug12 pic.twitter.com/6XAn1hYLASArrests are being made following declaration of unlawful assembly at Emancipation Park in Charlottesville. #cvilleaug12 pic.twitter.com/6XAn1hYLAS
The meeting abruptly broke up just before 2PM, with some of the departing far-right demonstrators saying that counter-protesters were coming. The meeting abruptly broke up just before 2pm, with some of the departing far-right demonstrators saying that counter-protesters were coming.
The local rightwing activist and former Daily Caller writer Jason Kessler had organized the Unite the Right event, which had planned to involve speeches from leading “alt-right” ideologues including Spencer, the podcaster Mike Peinovich, AKA “Mike Enoch”, and Matthew Heimbach, leader of the Traditionalist Workers party. The local rightwing activist and former Daily Caller writer Jason Kessler had organized the Unite the Right event, which had planned to involve speeches from leading far right ideologues including Spencer, the podcaster Mike Peinovich, AKA “Mike Enoch”, and Matthew Heimbach, leader of the Traditionalist Workers party.
At the start of the day, amid heightened tensions, protesters and counter-protesters had begun arriving in force at Emancipation park.At the start of the day, amid heightened tensions, protesters and counter-protesters had begun arriving in force at Emancipation park.
With a police helicopter buzzing overheard, successive groups of mostly young men, carrying Confederate flags, rune banners, “Kekistan” flags and other racist symbols entered via the south-east and south-west ends of the park.With a police helicopter buzzing overheard, successive groups of mostly young men, carrying Confederate flags, rune banners, “Kekistan” flags and other racist symbols entered via the south-east and south-west ends of the park.
They then passed through gaps left in the barricades surrounding the protest and the Robert E Lee statue which it claims to be defending. They then passed through gaps left in the barricades surrounding the protest and the Robert E Lee statue.
The passage of the far-right groups was watched over by Virginia state police, Charlottesville police officers, and armed “Three Percent” militia members, who were dressed in fatigues and open-carrying rifles. Facing them on Market Street were counter-protesters, many marching under the red and black banners of antifascist organizations.The passage of the far-right groups was watched over by Virginia state police, Charlottesville police officers, and armed “Three Percent” militia members, who were dressed in fatigues and open-carrying rifles. Facing them on Market Street were counter-protesters, many marching under the red and black banners of antifascist organizations.
The south-east entrance was briefly blocked by a group of about 20 clergy members, including Cornel West, who linked arms across the top of the stairs to the park.The south-east entrance was briefly blocked by a group of about 20 clergy members, including Cornel West, who linked arms across the top of the stairs to the park.
The Rev Seth Wispelwey, of Sojourners United Church of Christ in Charlottesville, said of the group: “We’re here to counteract white supremacy, and to let people know that it is a system of evil and a system of sin.”The Rev Seth Wispelwey, of Sojourners United Church of Christ in Charlottesville, said of the group: “We’re here to counteract white supremacy, and to let people know that it is a system of evil and a system of sin.”
Statue controversyStatue controversy
In February, the city council narrowly voted to remove and sell the Robert E Lee statue, and to rename the park in which it stands from Lee Park to Emancipation Park. This was the culmination of a campaign to remove the statue started by a local high school student, Zyahna Bryant.In February, the city council narrowly voted to remove and sell the Robert E Lee statue, and to rename the park in which it stands from Lee Park to Emancipation Park. This was the culmination of a campaign to remove the statue started by a local high school student, Zyahna Bryant.
It was part of a wave of such removals of Confederate monuments across the south, which began after Dylann Roof massacred nine African American churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina.It was part of a wave of such removals of Confederate monuments across the south, which began after Dylann Roof massacred nine African American churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina.
In response, last May, Richard Spencer led a torchlit white nationalist parade around the park. Then, on 8 July, about 50 members of the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan held a rally in the park, and were greeted by around 1,000 counter-protesters. The day ended in turmoil after police used tear gas on some counter-protesters following the Klan’s departure, and made 23 arrests.In response, last May, Richard Spencer led a torchlit white nationalist parade around the park. Then, on 8 July, about 50 members of the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan held a rally in the park, and were greeted by around 1,000 counter-protesters. The day ended in turmoil after police used tear gas on some counter-protesters following the Klan’s departure, and made 23 arrests.
Ben Jacobs and the Associated Press contributed to this reportBen Jacobs and the Associated Press contributed to this report