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Charlottesville: One killed in violence over US far-right rally | Charlottesville: One killed in violence over US far-right rally |
(35 minutes later) | |
One person has died and 19 others were injured when a car rammed a crowd of people opposing a far-right rally in the US state of Virginia, police say. | One person has died and 19 others were injured when a car rammed a crowd of people opposing a far-right rally in the US state of Virginia, police say. |
Earlier, street brawls erupted between white nationalists planning to attend the march and counter-protesters. | Earlier, street brawls erupted between white nationalists planning to attend the march and counter-protesters. |
The mayor of Charlottesville, where the now-cancelled rally was taking place, said he was "heartbroken" at the death. | The mayor of Charlottesville, where the now-cancelled rally was taking place, said he was "heartbroken" at the death. |
President Donald Trump has condemned the violence, and local officials have declared a state of emergency. | President Donald Trump has condemned the violence, and local officials have declared a state of emergency. |
The car involved in the ramming incident was later located a few streets away and the driver is in custody, the city's police chief said. | The car involved in the ramming incident was later located a few streets away and the driver is in custody, the city's police chief said. |
In addition to those injured there, the Charlottesville Police Department said another 15 people were injured in other violence related to the far-right march. | |
Late in the afternoon, a Virginia State Police helicopter, crashed in woodland south-west of the city, killing two people; however, there has been no indication that this was related to the violence. | Late in the afternoon, a Virginia State Police helicopter, crashed in woodland south-west of the city, killing two people; however, there has been no indication that this was related to the violence. |
The "Unite the Right" march was called to protest against plans to remove a statue of a general who had fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the US Civil War. | The "Unite the Right" march was called to protest against plans to remove a statue of a general who had fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the US Civil War. |
'Car backed up and hit again' | 'Car backed up and hit again' |
Video posted on social media showed a car ploughing at speed into several slow-moving vehicles, which were surrounded by a densely packed crowd. | Video posted on social media showed a car ploughing at speed into several slow-moving vehicles, which were surrounded by a densely packed crowd. |
A witness said one girl got "tore up" after the car "backed up and hit again". | A witness said one girl got "tore up" after the car "backed up and hit again". |
Officials said the driver had been taken into custody. | Officials said the driver had been taken into custody. |
Police earlier fired tear gas against demonstrators and said that arrests had been made after a declaration of unlawful assembly at Emancipation Park. | Police earlier fired tear gas against demonstrators and said that arrests had been made after a declaration of unlawful assembly at Emancipation Park. |
The far-right protesters, some waving Confederate flags, carrying shields and wearing helmets, are angry about the planned removal of a statue of General Robert E Lee from Charlottesville. | The far-right protesters, some waving Confederate flags, carrying shields and wearing helmets, are angry about the planned removal of a statue of General Robert E Lee from Charlottesville. |
Gen Lee commanded the pro-slavery Confederate forces in the US Civil War of 1861-65. | Gen Lee commanded the pro-slavery Confederate forces in the US Civil War of 1861-65. |
The New York Times reports that some of them were chanting "You will not replace us," and "Jew will not replace us." | The New York Times reports that some of them were chanting "You will not replace us," and "Jew will not replace us." |
Anti-racism organisations such as Black Lives Matter also held marches. | Anti-racism organisations such as Black Lives Matter also held marches. |
President Donald Trump condemned "in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides". | President Donald Trump condemned "in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides". |
"The hate and the division must stop right now," he told reporters, speaking in New Jersey, where he is on a working holiday. "We have to come together as Americans with love for our nation." | "The hate and the division must stop right now," he told reporters, speaking in New Jersey, where he is on a working holiday. "We have to come together as Americans with love for our nation." |
Democrats and Republicans alike have taken issue with his choice of words, noting that he failed to refer to the role of white nationalists. | Democrats and Republicans alike have taken issue with his choice of words, noting that he failed to refer to the role of white nationalists. |
Republican Senator Cory Gardner tweeted: "Mr. President - we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism." | Republican Senator Cory Gardner tweeted: "Mr. President - we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism." |
Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, also a Republican, felt similarly. | |
Right-wing blogger Jason Kessler had called for a "pro-white" rally in Charlottesville, and white nationalists promoted the gathering widely. | |
Oren Segal, director of the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism, said white power groups were present in Charlottesville - including neo-Nazis and factions of the Ku Klux Klan. | |
One picture tweeted by author J K Rowling showed a man on the street carrying a swastika flag. | |
The governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, said his only message for the white supremacists who had rallied in the city was - "go home." Speaking to reporters in Charlottesville, he said there was no place for white supremacist groups there, or in America. | |
At the scene: Bottles thrown | At the scene: Bottles thrown |
By Joel Gunter, BBC News, Charlottesville | By Joel Gunter, BBC News, Charlottesville |
There were very violent scenes at Emancipation Park and it took some time for the police to intervene. | There were very violent scenes at Emancipation Park and it took some time for the police to intervene. |
Both sides were throwing bottles and rocks and using pepper spray. | Both sides were throwing bottles and rocks and using pepper spray. |
The far-right protesters were a mix of different groups with shields and batons and the declaration of a state of emergency seemed to have had a significant impact on them, as they started to dissipate. | The far-right protesters were a mix of different groups with shields and batons and the declaration of a state of emergency seemed to have had a significant impact on them, as they started to dissipate. |
Shiquan Rah, a 21-year-old demonstrator who had joined the counter-protest, said about the far-right groups: "These people don't have a message, their message is hate and violence. This is a spiritual war we're in. | Shiquan Rah, a 21-year-old demonstrator who had joined the counter-protest, said about the far-right groups: "These people don't have a message, their message is hate and violence. This is a spiritual war we're in. |
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe urged calm tweeting: "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." | Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe urged calm tweeting: "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." |
Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer had earlier called the rally a "parade of hatred, bigotry, racism and intolerance". | Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer had earlier called the rally a "parade of hatred, bigotry, racism and intolerance". |
US Civil War and alt-right links | US Civil War and alt-right links |
The rise of the alt-right | The rise of the alt-right |
The hoax about desecration of US Civil War graves | The hoax about desecration of US Civil War graves |
On Friday, the white nationalists held lit torches - which some observers described as a reference to the Ku Klux Klan - and chanted "White lives matter" as they marched through the University of Virginia in the city. | On Friday, the white nationalists held lit torches - which some observers described as a reference to the Ku Klux Klan - and chanted "White lives matter" as they marched through the University of Virginia in the city. |
Charlottesville is considered a liberal college town - and 86% of the county voted for Hillary Clinton in last year's presidential elections. | Charlottesville is considered a liberal college town - and 86% of the county voted for Hillary Clinton in last year's presidential elections. |
However, the town has become a focal point for white nationalists after the city council voted to remove the statue of Gen Lee. | However, the town has become a focal point for white nationalists after the city council voted to remove the statue of Gen Lee. |
Some observers also argue that Mr Trump's election to the White House re-energised the far right across the US. | Some observers also argue that Mr Trump's election to the White House re-energised the far right across the US. |