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Charlottesville: State of emergency over US far-right rally | Charlottesville: State of emergency over US far-right rally |
(35 minutes later) | |
Officials in Charlottesville in the US state of Virginia have declared a state of emergency ahead of a large march by white nationalists. | Officials in Charlottesville in the US state of Virginia have declared a state of emergency ahead of a large march by white nationalists. |
Thousands of people are expected to join the "Unite the Right" rally against plans to remove a statue of a pro-slavery US Civil War general. | Thousands of people are expected to join the "Unite the Right" rally against plans to remove a statue of a pro-slavery US Civil War general. |
Violent clashes between far-right groups and counter-protesters have left at least two injured, police say. | Violent clashes between far-right groups and counter-protesters have left at least two injured, police say. |
President Donald Trump has condemned the violence. | President Donald Trump has condemned the violence. |
On Twitter, he said: "We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!" | On Twitter, he said: "We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!" |
After the clashes subsided, a car rammed into a crowd of counter-protesters. It was not immediately clear how many people had been injured. | |
Earlier, police fired tear gas against demonstrators and said that arrests had been made after a declaration of unlawful assembly at Emancipation Park. | |
The state of emergency allows local authorities to request additional resources if needed, the police department said. | The state of emergency allows local authorities to request additional resources if needed, the police department said. |
The far-right protesters, some waving Confederate flags, carrying shields and wearing helmets, are angry about the planned removal of a statue of Gen Robert E Lee from Charlottesville. Gen Lee commanded the Confederate forces in the US Civil War of 1861-65. | The far-right protesters, some waving Confederate flags, carrying shields and wearing helmets, are angry about the planned removal of a statue of Gen Robert E Lee from Charlottesville. Gen Lee commanded the 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 have also held marches. | Anti-racism organisations such as Black Lives Matter have also held marches. |
At the scene: Bottles thrown | |
By Joel Gunter, BBC News, Charlottesville | |
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. | |
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. | |
Riot police have been deployed, but tensions remain high, with people screaming at each other and demonstrators still out on the streets. | |
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." |
First Lady Melania Trump also condemned the violence, saying on Twitter: "Our country encourages freedom of speech, but let's communicate [without] hate in our hearts. No good comes from violence." | First Lady Melania Trump also condemned the violence, saying on Twitter: "Our country encourages freedom of speech, but let's communicate [without] hate in our hearts. No good comes from violence." |
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 a statue of Gen Lee. | However, the town has become a focal point for white nationalists after the city council voted to remove a 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. |