Outrage, sadness and calls to action
Protesters disrupt remarks as officials grieve for victims
Read more about the victim, the driver and words from the White House
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. Tensions remained high Sunday as the city and nation grappled with the aftermath of deadly violence between white nationalists defending a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and opponents protesting white supremacist views.
Jason Kessler, the local organizer of Saturday’s Unite the Right rally, tried to hold a news conference Sunday in front of Charlottesville City Hall — and it quickly descended into chaos.
Protesters blared horns, rang bells and shouted “murderer.” Kessler’s voice was drowned out, he was tackled and bedlam ensued before police officers intervened and spirited him away.
“I tried my best but once again violence rules over speech and ideas in #Charlottesville,” Kessler tweeted later. “The first amendment is finished it seems.”
Charlottesville resident Jeffrey Stricker said he attended the would-be news conference to protest Kessler and other white nationalists.
“Their views have been out of date for a long time,” Stricker said. “They’re not welcome.”
It was another moment of mayhem for the city, home to the University of Virginia and now a battleground for clashes pitting white supremacists, neo-Nazis and other “alt-right” groups against counter-protesters, from Black Lives Matter to anti-fascists.
That battleground turned deadly Saturday when Heather Heyer, 32, was killed after a car slammed into counter-protesters marching away from the scene of the initial violence. Ten people remained hospitalized in good condition Sunday, according to the UVA Health System.
“My heart goes out to Heather Heyer’s family,” Gov. Terry McAuliffe tweeted Sunday. “She died standing up against hate & bigotry. Her bravery should inspire all to come together.”
The Justice Department said it will open a civil rights investigation into Heyer’s death.
Hours after the car crash, two state troopers died when their helicopter slammed into woods near the protests.
McAuliffe, a Democrat, denounced right-wing extremists Sunday and spoke of healing at a church service.
“I see a future that is brighter,” he told a worshipers at the historically black First Baptist Church. “I see a future where every single child, no matter where you were born, how you were born or who you love, has the same opportunities in our great society.”
Charlottesville Mayor Michael Signer, called Heyer’s death a terrorist act and blamed white supremacists.
“This is a city that is praying and grieving,” Signer told CNN. “We had three people die yesterday who didn’t need to die. ... Two things need to be said over and over again — domestic terrorism and white supremacy.”
After Kessler’s failed news conference, he released a video statement on Twitter blaming city officials for Saturday’s violence. He said they failed to separate the protest groups and were illequipped to handle the melee. The city “was so concerned about shutting down the speech ... they weren’t willing to do their jobs,” Kessler said.
Marches and rallies against racism were scheduled Sunday. The Indivisible Project, which opposes President Trump’s policies, said the protesters “will come together in solidarity with our brave friends in Charlottesville who put themselves at risk to fight against white supremacy.”