One Person Killed, 35 Others Injured in Clashes at 'Unite the Right' Rally in Charlottesville, VA
- Veronica Neffinger iBelieve Contributor
- Updated Aug 12, 2017
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One person has been killed and 35 others were injured in a “Unite the Right” rally involving white supremacist groups and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The central Virginia city has been in the crosshairs of clashes between white nationalists and counter-protesters due to the recent vote to remove a confederate statue of General Robert E. Lee.
On Saturday, hundreds or white nationalists and alt-right groups gathered to hold a rally in Charlottesville’s Emancipation Park. Hundreds of counter protesters also gathered in downtown Charlottesville.
Tensions between the groups soon escalated. Fights broke out and bottles, sticks, and other objects were thrown into the crowd.
The worst violence, however, occurred when a white nationalist supporter rammed a vehicle into the gathered crowd, killing one person and injuring others.
The graphic footage of the horrific incident was captured by one of the counter-protesters.
According to CNN.com, the vehicle’s driver has been taken into custody. The gov. of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, has declared a state of emergency and police and members of the National Guard have since cleared the streets.
Security personnel are on high alert as the evening approaches in an effort to prevent any further violence.
President Trump has released a statement following the escalation of violence.
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides. It has been going on for a long time in our country -- not Donald Trump, not Barack Obama. It has been going on for a long, long time. It has no place in America."
Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/mcdustelroy
Publication date: August 12, 2017