Hate rally turns deadly
A WHITE nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, erupted into deadly violence yesterday when a car ploughed into a crowd as demonstrators and counter-protesters clashed.
The tragedy spurred US President Donald Trump to condemn “hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides.”
But as the death toll linked to the rally rose to three — a woman in the protest and two police troopers in a helicopter crash nearby — Mr Trump’s apparent refusal to criticise far-Right hate groups sparked sharp criticism, even from members of his Republican Party.
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe had already declared a state of emergency when a dark sedan surged into a crowd of what witnesses said was counter-demonstrators.
A woman, 32, was killed and at least 19 people were hurt, police said, with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening.
Another 16 people were treated for other injuries at the rally, including “individual engagements,” police chief Al Thomas said.
The alleged driver, James Alex Fields Jr, a 20-year-old from Ohio, was charged with second-degree murder. The Virginia State Police announced late yesterday that three more men had been charged with offences such as disorderly conduct, assault and battery, and carrying a concealed handgun.
Chaos boiled over at what is believed to be the largest group of white nationalists to come together in a decade. The governor declared a state of emergency, and police dressed in riot gear ordered people out.
The group had gathered to protest plans to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and others arrived to protest the racism.
Police said the helicopter was “assisting public safety resources with the ongoing situation” when it crashed in a wooded area.
Pilot Lt H. Jay Cullen, 48, and Trooper-Pilot Burke M.M. Bates died.
Mr Trump tweeted “deepest condolences to the families & fellow officers of the VA State Police who died.”
He later added: “Condolences to the family of the young woman killed today, and best regards to all of those injured, in Charlottesville, Virginia. So sad!”
Hundreds had descended on Charlottesville to march in or rail against a “Unite the Right Rally.” Unrest quickly flared even as riot police and national guard troops flooded the city centre. White far-Right supporters, some wearing hats with Mr Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan and others in riot gear with shields and batons, faced off against counterprotesters as each side hurled projectiles.
Anti-racism protesters waved Black Lives Matter flags and chanted slogans such as “We say no to racist fear” and “No Nazis, no KKK, no fascist USA.”
A witness claimed the car ramming was “intentional”, saying one girl got “tore up” after the car “backed up and they hit again.”
He said the dark sedan “raced down here, jumped over the speed bumps and it backed up and it hit everyone again.”
Mr Trump, speaking from his golf course in New Jersey, said the hatred that erupted had existed in the US for “a long, long time”.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides,” he said.
“It has no place in America. The hate and the division must stop, and must stop right now.”
But the president stopped short of condemning white nationalist and supremacist groups, and ignored questions about the groups, which broadly supported him in last year’s election.
He was quickly criticised by liberals such as his 2016 election opponent Hillary Clinton, and several prominent Republicans.
“Very important for the nation to hear @potus describe events in #Charlottesville for what they are, a terror attack by #whitesupremacists,” Florida Senator Marco Rubio tweeted.