A group of white nationalists armed with cheap tiki torches and towering mugs of white privilege converged on the city of Charlottesville in Virginia ahead of a planned event on Friday. The Unite The Right rally, which was slated to take place in the city Saturday, was preceded by a number of ongoing clashes between nationalists and counter-protestors.
NBC News writes:
Altercations erupted Saturday morning and at least two people were hurt as white nationalists and counter-protesters violently clashed in Charlottesville, Virginia, where local police and the governor declared a state of emergency.
Supporters of the “Unite the Right” rally descended again on the city’s downtown in opposition to clergy members and other groups, who stood in a line singing, “This Little Light of Mine,” to drown out the profanity and slurs.
“Love has already won. We have already won,” the counter-protesters responded.
But as the violence intensified with shoving and punching, demonstrators covered their mouths after what appeared to be tear gas was released into the crowd.
The city and Albemarle County both issued a “declaration of local emergency” for the two jurisdictions to request additional resources. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe also declared a state of emergency to allow for a response to quell the violence.
MSNBC just said in a live report that the Unite The Right rally has been canceled due to the clashing in the streets. Some of the fights took hold on the campus of the University of Virginia as well, with figures such as Dr. Cornel West among the throng shouting down the rally’s intent.
As this story develops, we will provide updates. See below and the following pages to some of the reaction. So far, it looks like the Nazi Parade is unraveling although some of the supremacists are reportedly pulling weapons on people when confronted.
https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/896210591739764741
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Photo: screen cap
