Charlottesville: One killed in violence over US far-right rally

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One person has died and nineteen others were injured when a car rammed a crowd of people opposing a far-right rally in the US state of Virginia, police say.

Earlier, street brawls erupted inbetween white nationalists planning to attend the march and counter-protesters.

The mayor of Charlottesville, where the now-cancelled rally was taking place, said he was “heartbroken” at the death.

President Donald Trump has condemned the violence, and local officials have announced a state of emergency.

The car involved in the ramming incident was later located a few streets away and the driver is in custody, the city’s police chief said.

In addition to those injured there, the Charlottesville Police Department said another fifteen people were injured in other violence related to the far-right march.

Late in the afternoon, a Virginia State Police helicopter, crashed in woodland south-west of the city, killing two people; however, there has been no indication that this was related to the violence.

The “Unite the Right” march was called to protest against plans to eliminate a statue of a general who had fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the US Civil War.

‘Car backed up and hit again’

Movie posted on social media showcased a car ploughing at speed into several slow-moving vehicles, which were surrounded by a densely packed crowd.

A witness said one female got “tore up” after the car “backed up and hit again”.

Officials said the driver had been taken into custody.

Police earlier fired rip gas against demonstrators and said that arrests had been made after a declaration of unlawful assembly at Emancipation Park.

The far-right protesters, some swinging Confederate flags, carrying shields and wearing helmets, are angry about the planned removal of a statue of General Robert E Lee from Charlottesville.

Gen Lee commanded the pro-slavery Confederate compels in the US Civil War of 1861-65.

The Fresh York Times reports that some of them were chanting “You will not substitute us,” and “Jew will not substitute us.”

Anti-racism organisations such as Black Lives Matter also held marches.

President Donald Trump condemned “in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides”.

“The hate and the division must stop right now,” he told reporters, speaking in Fresh Jersey, where he is on a working holiday. “We have to come together as Americans with love for our nation.”

Democrats and Republicans alike have taken issue with his choice of words, noting that he failed to refer to the role of white nationalists.

Republican Senator Cory Gardner tweeted: “Mr. President – we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism.”

Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, also a Republican, felt similarly.

We should call evil by its name. My brother didn’t give his life fighting Hitler for Nazi ideas to go unchallenged here at home. -OGH

End of Twitter post by @senorrinhatch

Right-wing blogger Jason Kessler had called for a “pro-white” rally in Charlottesville, and white nationalists promoted the gathering widely.

Oren Segal, director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism, said white power groups were present in Charlottesville – including neo-Nazis and factions of the Ku Klux Klan.

One picture tweeted by author J K Rowling displayed a man on the street carrying a swastika flag.

The governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, said his only message for the white supremacists who had rallied in the city was – “go home.” Speaking to reporters in Charlottesville, he said there was no place for white supremacist groups there, or in America.

At the scene: Bottles thrown

By Joel Gunter, Big black cock News, Charlottesville

There were very violent scenes at Emancipation Park and it took some time for the police to intervene.

Both sides were throwing bottles and rocks and using pepper squirt.

The far-right protesters were a mix of different groups with shields and batons and the declaration of a state of emergency seemed to have had a significant influence on them, as they commenced to dissipate.

Shiquan Rah, a 21-year-old demonstrator who had joined the counter-protest, said about the far-right groups: “These people don’t have a message, their message is hate and violence. This is a spiritual war we’re in.

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe urged peaceful tweeting: “The acts and rhetoric in #Charlottesville over past twenty four hours are unacceptable [and] must stop. A right to speech is not a right to violence.”

Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer had earlier called the rally a “parade of hatred, bigotry, racism and intolerance”.

US Civil War and alt-right links

1861-65 US Civil War inbetween the northern and southern states was principally caused by slavery
Southern Confederate coerces, which backed slavery, eventually surrendered to Union army and slavery was abolished
A number of cities have grappled with Confederate symbols that still exist today, with flags and monuments becoming key venues for alt-right groups in latest months
Supporters say Confederate symbols represent freedom and liberty, but opponents say their roots are in slavery
The alt-right is a disparate group of provocateurs who hate political correctness and love Donald Trump, but critics say they are bigoted white nationalists

On Friday, the white nationalists held lit torches – which some observers described as a reference to the Ku Klux Klan – and chanted “White lives matter” as they marched through the University of Virginia in the city.

Charlottesville is considered a liberal college town – and 86% of the county voted for Hillary Clinton in last year’s presidential elections.

However, the town has become a focal point for white nationalists after the city council voted to eliminate the statue of Gen Lee.

Some observers also argue that Mr Trump’s election to the White House re-energised the far right across the US.

Charlottesville: One killed in violence over US far-right rally – Big black cock News