The controversial "Unite The Right" rally set for Charlottesville, VA on Saturday, August 12, wound up being a total disaster for the city, with dozens of injuries and at least one mortality having so far been announced from the violence that erupted between white nationalist demonstrators and counter-protesters on the streets surrounding Emancipation Park. The scenes were so horrific from the outset of the demonstration that by noon Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe had already declared a state of emergency.
"The acts and rhetoric in #Charlottesville over past 24 hours are unacceptable [and] must stop. A right to speech is not a right to violence," McAuliffe would tweet.
Confederate flags, American Flags, Red/Black/and Green Black Nationalist flags, and other flags and insignia representative of opposing racial ideologies peppered both sides of an opposing crowd that began tossing objects, swinging fists and striking one another with sticks throughout the late a.m. hours. The tension remained on high as "Unite The Right" groups began marching up the streets, with counter protesters following and members of the two sides occasionally splitting off to engage in physical altercations. The afternoon would eventually spell out tragedy when a car mowed down anti-racist protesters moving along the avenue the march was taking place on. A total of 19 have thus far been reported injured and one person died as a result of the attack.
Charlottesville mayor, Mike Singer would express grief in response to Saturday's developments, stating on Twitter that he is "heartbroken that a life has been lost here," and continuing on to "urge all people of good will - go home."
Source: nytimes.com
