Emancipation Park, Charlottesville, VA – Militia, Antifa, and what the media are calling “alt-right” faced off in Charlottesville, Virginia over the city’s decision to remove yet another Confederate Statue of Robert E. Lee. After declaring the rally illegal, there were not only scuffles and violence, but a vehicle drove into the crowd of counter-protesters.
It began Friday night with a torch procession at the University of Virginia. By Saturday, the scheduled rally in Emancipation Park became so large that Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe declared the rally an “illegal assembly” and issued a “State of Emergency” over the “Unite the Right” rally.
Jason Kessler, a right wing blogger, had sued the city when they were told they would have to move their rally to a different location, citing safety concerns with the size of the crowd expected. His argument was that the city’s statement was a violation of free speech. Judge Glen Conrad agreed and granted the injunction against the city.
Chaos in a small park
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The situation appears to have not grown out of hand until the appearance of Antifa. Some of the right side protesters showed up with shields, some of the left with sticks. Both had pepper spray. The Unite the Right side is a mix of KKK/White Supremacists and regular protesters. The left side is a mix of Black Lives Matter and Antifa. A volatile mix.
Keep in mind that the source of the next few tweets is a liberal reporter.
Things growing decidedly more tense suddenly. Line of clergy left counter-protest with appearance of antifa. pic.twitter.com/xxef9k0EVd
— Joshua Eaton (@joshua_eaton) August 12, 2017
Lines of white nationalist protesters and antifa are very close next to Lee/Emancipation Park, with no police presence in between. pic.twitter.com/I2rKOMy3wH
— Joshua Eaton (@joshua_eaton) August 12, 2017
This is becoming a fight. Police largely absent. pic.twitter.com/2wVqCu33oy
— Joshua Eaton (@joshua_eaton) August 12, 2017
People coughing and wheezing as protesters and counter protesters using mace on each other. No police separating groups. pic.twitter.com/IZD9rI0ABW
— Joshua Eaton (@joshua_eaton) August 12, 2017
Group of nationalists with shield, flags now pushing toward antifa. pic.twitter.com/ScEDxHmQyl
— Joshua Eaton (@joshua_eaton) August 12, 2017
Governor McAuliffe was asked by the Virginia State Police to declare a State of Emergency so they could get more resources to help with the crowd. According to Virginia code they can declare an assembly unlawful and make arrests.
This is the Virginia statute on unlawful assembly #cvilleaug12 pic.twitter.com/dyqdEN7k71
— VA State Police (@VSPPIO) August 12, 2017
ALERT: Unlawful assembly declared for rally at Emancipation Park #cvilleaug12 pic.twitter.com/2OcchnDNFS
— Charlottesville City (@CvilleCityHall) August 12, 2017
Below is the Governor’s statement regarding the emergency declaration he authorized this morning: pic.twitter.com/yS1E9mispG
— Terry McAuliffe (@GovernorVA) August 12, 2017
Both sides used pepper spray on each other. At least two people were injured. White Supremacist David Duke joined the protest. Tempers flared. One Black Lives Matter supporter was waving a Palestinian flag, which infuriated the right wing protesters. By this afternoon, a vehicle had driven into the crowd of counter protesters, at this writing injuries are unknown.
#BREAKING @AP Reporting that Vehicle plowed into a group of counter-protesters at a white nationalist rally in #Virginia; Injuries unknown
— Rob Hedrick (@RobTVLA) August 12, 2017
@realDonaldTrump Black man being interviewed on Fox during protest saying its the Left that is being violent. Fox News CUTS HIM OFF.
— Virginia Coverdale (@gotapoint) August 12, 2017
White nationalists carry torches, shout ‘you will not replace us’ during Virginia protest https://t.co/qiwbUt1bdB pic.twitter.com/ihwSvaxq9L
— The Hill (@thehill) August 12, 2017
H/T Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children
Related:
- Trump condemns hate in Charlottesville, triggers liberal hatemongers on Twitter
- Virginia city council votes to remove nearly 100-year-old statue of Robert…
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