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Civil rights inquiry opened in connection with Charlottesville rally death Civil rights inquiry opened in connection with Charlottesville rally death
(35 minutes later)
The US Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into the death of a woman killed this weekend when a car smashed into anti-racism protesters. The move came as politicians from all sides rounded on Donald Trump for failing to explicitly condemn white supremacy groups or label the violence domestic terrorism.The US Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into the death of a woman killed this weekend when a car smashed into anti-racism protesters. The move came as politicians from all sides rounded on Donald Trump for failing to explicitly condemn white supremacy groups or label the violence domestic terrorism.
On Saturday the president had condemned hatred and violence on “many sides” in his remarks but had not directly singled out the white supremacists whose attempt to hold a major rally in Charlottesville, Virginia resulted in the governor’s calling a state of emergency. Disorder including clashes with counterprotesters left more than 30 injured.On Saturday the president had condemned hatred and violence on “many sides” in his remarks but had not directly singled out the white supremacists whose attempt to hold a major rally in Charlottesville, Virginia resulted in the governor’s calling a state of emergency. Disorder including clashes with counterprotesters left more than 30 injured.
The woman who was killed by the car that plowed into counterprotesters was named as 32-year-old Heather Heyer, a legal assistant who had repeatedly championed civil rights issues on social media.The woman who was killed by the car that plowed into counterprotesters was named as 32-year-old Heather Heyer, a legal assistant who had repeatedly championed civil rights issues on social media.
A 20-year-old man, James Fields of Maumee, Ohio, has been charged with her murder. On Sunday photographs surfaced of Fields that had been taken on Saturday earlier in the day as he stood with a neo-Nazi group and held a shield with a far-right emblem.A 20-year-old man, James Fields of Maumee, Ohio, has been charged with her murder. On Sunday photographs surfaced of Fields that had been taken on Saturday earlier in the day as he stood with a neo-Nazi group and held a shield with a far-right emblem.
The failure of Trump to directly blame white supremacists, after some had marched through Charlottesville’s streets shouting, “Hail Trump” while making Nazi salutes, has prompted harsh criticism. Many are urging for the president to do so including leading Republicans such as senators Marco Rubio and Cory Gardner and New Jersey’s governor Chris Christie, as well as a slew of Democrats.The failure of Trump to directly blame white supremacists, after some had marched through Charlottesville’s streets shouting, “Hail Trump” while making Nazi salutes, has prompted harsh criticism. Many are urging for the president to do so including leading Republicans such as senators Marco Rubio and Cory Gardner and New Jersey’s governor Chris Christie, as well as a slew of Democrats.
Gardner tweeted: “Mr. President - we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism.” Rubio tweeted there was “nothing patriotic about Nazis ,the #KKK or #WhiteSupremacists It’s the direct opposite of what #America seeks to be.”Gardner tweeted: “Mr. President - we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism.” Rubio tweeted there was “nothing patriotic about Nazis ,the #KKK or #WhiteSupremacists It’s the direct opposite of what #America seeks to be.”
Christie, a staunch Trump supporter, wrote: “We reject the racism and violence of white nationalists like the ones acting out in Charlottesville. Everyone in leadership must speak out.”Christie, a staunch Trump supporter, wrote: “We reject the racism and violence of white nationalists like the ones acting out in Charlottesville. Everyone in leadership must speak out.”
On Sunday morning talk shows, Tom Bossert, the White House homeland security adviser, defended the president’s statement by suggesting that some of the counterprotesters had also been violent, and only when pressed did he specifically condemn the racist groups.On Sunday morning talk shows, Tom Bossert, the White House homeland security adviser, defended the president’s statement by suggesting that some of the counterprotesters had also been violent, and only when pressed did he specifically condemn the racist groups.
The White House responded to the criticism on Sunday with a statement that said the president had “said very strongly in his statement yesterday that he condemns all forms of violence, bigotry, and hatred. Of course that includes white supremacists, KKK Neo-Nazi and all extremist groups. He called for national unity and bringing all Americans together.”The White House responded to the criticism on Sunday with a statement that said the president had “said very strongly in his statement yesterday that he condemns all forms of violence, bigotry, and hatred. Of course that includes white supremacists, KKK Neo-Nazi and all extremist groups. He called for national unity and bringing all Americans together.”
Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and also a White House aide, meanwhile, did criticise the groups directly, tweeting, “There should be no place in society for racism, white supremacy and neo-nazis.”Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and also a White House aide, meanwhile, did criticise the groups directly, tweeting, “There should be no place in society for racism, white supremacy and neo-nazis.”
Trump is on a 17-day “working vacation” at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, but is sure to face questions about his response and views on white supremacists when he next speaks to journalists publicly.Trump is on a 17-day “working vacation” at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, but is sure to face questions about his response and views on white supremacists when he next speaks to journalists publicly.
The president’s short-lived communications chief Anthony Scaramucci, also added his voice to the criticism of Trump’s response - and speculated about the future of Steven Bannon, the White House chief adviser who previously served as the executive chairman of the far-right news site Breitbart. On ABC’s This Morning with George Stephanopoulos, Scaramucci said of Trump’s Saturday comments from Bedminster: “I wouldn’t have recommended that statement,” adding, “I think he would have needed to have been much harsher.”The president’s short-lived communications chief Anthony Scaramucci, also added his voice to the criticism of Trump’s response - and speculated about the future of Steven Bannon, the White House chief adviser who previously served as the executive chairman of the far-right news site Breitbart. On ABC’s This Morning with George Stephanopoulos, Scaramucci said of Trump’s Saturday comments from Bedminster: “I wouldn’t have recommended that statement,” adding, “I think he would have needed to have been much harsher.”
Added Scaramucci: “With the moral authority of the presidency, you have to call that stuff out,” He went on to say there’s “this sort of “Bannon-bart” influence” in the White House that “is a snag on the president.” When asked by Stephanopoulos if that influence stemmed from Bannon, Scaramucci replied, “I think the president knows what he’s going to do with Steve Bannon.”Added Scaramucci: “With the moral authority of the presidency, you have to call that stuff out,” He went on to say there’s “this sort of “Bannon-bart” influence” in the White House that “is a snag on the president.” When asked by Stephanopoulos if that influence stemmed from Bannon, Scaramucci replied, “I think the president knows what he’s going to do with Steve Bannon.”
Hundreds of white nationalists marched through Charlottesville on Friday evening and onto the campus of the University of Virginia there, bearing torches and chanting, “You will not replace us.” Then they gathered again on Saturday morning, some carrying KKK and Confederate flags, to converge on a local park.Hundreds of white nationalists marched through Charlottesville on Friday evening and onto the campus of the University of Virginia there, bearing torches and chanting, “You will not replace us.” Then they gathered again on Saturday morning, some carrying KKK and Confederate flags, to converge on a local park.
The white nationalists had assembled in Charlottesville to vent their frustration over the city’s plans to take down a statue of Confederate general Robert E Lee. Many were armed with clubs, wearing paramilitary garb and chanting antisemitic and racist slogans and epithets as they converged on a public park while local police looked on.The white nationalists had assembled in Charlottesville to vent their frustration over the city’s plans to take down a statue of Confederate general Robert E Lee. Many were armed with clubs, wearing paramilitary garb and chanting antisemitic and racist slogans and epithets as they converged on a public park while local police looked on.
Counter-protesters massed in opposition, and a few hours after violent encounters between the two groups, a car drove into a crowd of people peacefully protesting the rally. “Alt-right” activist Richard Spencer and former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke attended the demonstrations.Counter-protesters massed in opposition, and a few hours after violent encounters between the two groups, a car drove into a crowd of people peacefully protesting the rally. “Alt-right” activist Richard Spencer and former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke attended the demonstrations.
Two Virginia state troopers died when their helicopter, which had been flying above the demonstrations, crashed in woods nearby.Two Virginia state troopers died when their helicopter, which had been flying above the demonstrations, crashed in woods nearby.
Speaking on Sunday, also on CNN, Charlottesville’s mayor, Michael Signer, said: “There are a bunch of folks in the hospital. This is a city that’s grieving. These were people that didn’t need to die.”Speaking on Sunday, also on CNN, Charlottesville’s mayor, Michael Signer, said: “There are a bunch of folks in the hospital. This is a city that’s grieving. These were people that didn’t need to die.”
Asked whether Trump should bear any responsibility for the rise in openly racist, white nationalist sentiment and displays, Signer, a Democrat, said: “Look at the campaign he ran. Look at the intentional courting of these white nationalist groups and the repeated failure to silence all those different efforts [to bring people together], just like we saw yesterday.”Asked whether Trump should bear any responsibility for the rise in openly racist, white nationalist sentiment and displays, Signer, a Democrat, said: “Look at the campaign he ran. Look at the intentional courting of these white nationalist groups and the repeated failure to silence all those different efforts [to bring people together], just like we saw yesterday.”
Added Signer: “There are two words that need to be said over and over: domestic terrorism and white supremacy, and we are not seeing leadership from the White House on this.”Added Signer: “There are two words that need to be said over and over: domestic terrorism and white supremacy, and we are not seeing leadership from the White House on this.”
Tom Bossert, the White House homeland security adviser, spoke about the possibility of the death penalty in connection with the killing of Heyer. Speaking to CNN’s State of the Union, he said: “There is a civil rights investigation. We will see where the facts take us. He has been charged with second-degree murder and that could carry a much stiffer penalty if there is evidence to support a civil rights abuse or a hate crime. That could bring the death penalty.”Tom Bossert, the White House homeland security adviser, spoke about the possibility of the death penalty in connection with the killing of Heyer. Speaking to CNN’s State of the Union, he said: “There is a civil rights investigation. We will see where the facts take us. He has been charged with second-degree murder and that could carry a much stiffer penalty if there is evidence to support a civil rights abuse or a hate crime. That could bring the death penalty.”
Far right activists shouted down
Later on Sunday afternoon in downtown Charlottesville, the ‘Unite the Right’ rally organiser Jason Kessler attempted to hold a press conference with ‘alt right’ activist leader Richard Spencer. The two had earlier distanced themselves from the accused killer, James Field.
As soon as Kessler emerged in the forecourt of Charlottesville’s City Hall, a crowd of more than 300 who had gathered along with the waiting media began yelling insults at the men. At the microphones, Kessler became increasingly animated, but was completely inaudible.
After a few minutes, the crowd rushed the improvised podium. Kessler fled and made his escape with the protection of waiting state police in riot gear. Behind the line of police, the crowd resumed chanting “Nazis go home”, and “we are unstoppable another world is possible”.
After some fifteen minutes, when it was clear Kessler had left the downtown area, police and the crowd dispersed. In a nearby ice cream shop, Joe Montoya, a local resident who had been vociferous in the crowd, said he was glad that the town had prevented Kessler from speaking. “This is what our town is like,” he said. “Charlottesville is a diverse place. We come together at times like this. Love wins”
Donald Trump’s father, Fred Trump, is widely believed to have had links to, or at least been an enthusiastic supporter of, the Ku Klux Klan. He was arrested at a Klan rally in New York City’s borough of Queens in 1927.Donald Trump’s father, Fred Trump, is widely believed to have had links to, or at least been an enthusiastic supporter of, the Ku Klux Klan. He was arrested at a Klan rally in New York City’s borough of Queens in 1927.
The first mention of Donald Trump in the New York Times appears to have been in 1973 when, as president of the Trump Management Corporation that controlled thousands of New York City rental apartments , he countersued the federal government after it accused his family’s company of racial discrimination. . The first mention of Donald Trump in the New York Times appears to have been in 1973 when, as president of the Trump Management Corporation that controlled thousands of New York City rental apartments , he countersued the federal government after it accused his family’s company of racial discrimination.
Despite fighting back fiercely, the Trumps with the aid of notorious attorney Roy Cohn, were eventually obliged to alter their renting policies.Despite fighting back fiercely, the Trumps with the aid of notorious attorney Roy Cohn, were eventually obliged to alter their renting policies.
Virginia was among the southern Confederate states that fought the US north in an effort to continue the legal practice of slavery in America, an epic battle that they lost and that changedthe course of world history. Nonetheless, US cities across the south are adorned with scores of statues commemorating the leaders and soldiers of the Confederacy and Confederate flags have flown outside many state capitols, despite the racist, pro-slavery and pro-segregationist connotations.
Following the 2015 mass shooting of black worshippers in a reveredSouth Carolina church by Dylan Roof, a young white supremicist, anti-racism activists have pushed for taking down such flags from official display, and some cities have opted to remove long-established Confederate statues.
The move to do so has sparked protests, that have often turned violent, or led to statues being removed at the dead of night while the workers taking them down have been guarded by police and had their identities shielded to deter recrimination from the far right.
Associated Press contributed to this report.Associated Press contributed to this report.