This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/13/charlottesville-officials-reject-criticism-of-weak-policing
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Charlottesville leaders defend police response to rally with violent turn | |
| (6 months later) | |
| Yet far-right demonstrators and counter-protesters find fault with law enforcement’s reaction | |
| Edward Helmore in New York | |
| Sun 13 Aug 2017 22.01 BST | |
| Last modified on Thu 21 Sep 2017 00.23 BST | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| Government officials in Charlottesville, Virginia, have rejected criticism that police failed to act to break up white nationalists and counter-protesters to prevent clashes that injured 14 people. The violence culminated with the death of one woman and an additional 19 individuals hurt when a car plowed into a crowd. | Government officials in Charlottesville, Virginia, have rejected criticism that police failed to act to break up white nationalists and counter-protesters to prevent clashes that injured 14 people. The violence culminated with the death of one woman and an additional 19 individuals hurt when a car plowed into a crowd. |
| “Law Enforcement did respond to and break up various fights in and around Emancipation Park prior to the unlawful assembly declaration,” Al Thomas, Charlottesville’s police chief, said in statement on Sunday. | “Law Enforcement did respond to and break up various fights in and around Emancipation Park prior to the unlawful assembly declaration,” Al Thomas, Charlottesville’s police chief, said in statement on Sunday. |
| Thomas claimed: “Once the unlawful assembly was declared, we gave people sufficient opportunity to disperse. When circumstances warranted, our officers moved back into the park to address those who had not complied.” | Thomas claimed: “Once the unlawful assembly was declared, we gave people sufficient opportunity to disperse. When circumstances warranted, our officers moved back into the park to address those who had not complied.” |
| His comments were backed by Michael Signer, Charlottesville’s mayor, who rejected claims on CBS’s Face the Nation that the police response had been ineffective. | His comments were backed by Michael Signer, Charlottesville’s mayor, who rejected claims on CBS’s Face the Nation that the police response had been ineffective. |
| Signer said: “That’s totally mistaken ... We had the single largest assembly of law enforcement officers since 9/11, almost 1,000 law enforcement personnel,” he added. “I regret that that happened. But we had ... a very strong security plan in place with a lot of folks, to allow people to express their views.” | Signer said: “That’s totally mistaken ... We had the single largest assembly of law enforcement officers since 9/11, almost 1,000 law enforcement personnel,” he added. “I regret that that happened. But we had ... a very strong security plan in place with a lot of folks, to allow people to express their views.” |
| Law enforcement officials have faced some criticism over news footage of riot police surrounding the city’s Emancipation Park on three sides but apparently doing little to stop groups of people from attacking one another. The situation was complicated by the fact that some demonstrators wore police-style helmets and had plexiglass riot shields. | Law enforcement officials have faced some criticism over news footage of riot police surrounding the city’s Emancipation Park on three sides but apparently doing little to stop groups of people from attacking one another. The situation was complicated by the fact that some demonstrators wore police-style helmets and had plexiglass riot shields. |
| The Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi website, had openly advised attendees to prepare for a confrontation. “Bring whatever you need, that you feel you need for your self defense. Do what you need to do for security of your own person,” said Mike Peinovich, known as Mike Enoch, creator of The Right Stuff, a far-right podcast. | The Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi website, had openly advised attendees to prepare for a confrontation. “Bring whatever you need, that you feel you need for your self defense. Do what you need to do for security of your own person,” said Mike Peinovich, known as Mike Enoch, creator of The Right Stuff, a far-right podcast. |
| But despite the fact that authorities had weeks of preparation, including the mobilization of 1,000 first responders, some observers claimed that the militia groups did more to stop the violence than the police. | But despite the fact that authorities had weeks of preparation, including the mobilization of 1,000 first responders, some observers claimed that the militia groups did more to stop the violence than the police. |
| “Several times, a group of assault-rifle-toting militia members from New York state, wearing body armor and desert camo, played a more active role in breaking up fights,” reported ProPublica. | “Several times, a group of assault-rifle-toting militia members from New York state, wearing body armor and desert camo, played a more active role in breaking up fights,” reported ProPublica. |
| Bo Dietl, a New York police veteran running in New York’s forthcoming mayoral election as an independent, told the Guardian that based on his experience, “when you have violence-prone groups showing up with bats and weaponry, you have to separate them from the beginning. You have the manpower to defuse it.” | Bo Dietl, a New York police veteran running in New York’s forthcoming mayoral election as an independent, told the Guardian that based on his experience, “when you have violence-prone groups showing up with bats and weaponry, you have to separate them from the beginning. You have the manpower to defuse it.” |
| Added Dietl: “What happened yesterday was the groups got too close together. You can’t let it escalate into what we saw yesterday. The more time you leave it, the more likely it is to go to violence. | Added Dietl: “What happened yesterday was the groups got too close together. You can’t let it escalate into what we saw yesterday. The more time you leave it, the more likely it is to go to violence. |
| “You have to disperse the groups and give them a pathway out. If they don’t take it, you grab ’em and lock ’em up for disorderly conduct.” | “You have to disperse the groups and give them a pathway out. If they don’t take it, you grab ’em and lock ’em up for disorderly conduct.” |
| A spokesperson for Charlottesville police claimed officers were at the site in the early morning hours and through the day but since the park is public property “individuals were allowed to go into the park”. | A spokesperson for Charlottesville police claimed officers were at the site in the early morning hours and through the day but since the park is public property “individuals were allowed to go into the park”. |
| The police department further denied reports that it had failed to act until after Terry McAuliffe, Virginia’s governor, declared a state of emergency. | The police department further denied reports that it had failed to act until after Terry McAuliffe, Virginia’s governor, declared a state of emergency. |
| On Sunday speaking on NBC News, McAuliffe commended police for their handling of the situation. “They had to give people an opportunity to clear out the park. Everybody had weapons here, and not a shot was fired.” | On Sunday speaking on NBC News, McAuliffe commended police for their handling of the situation. “They had to give people an opportunity to clear out the park. Everybody had weapons here, and not a shot was fired.” |
| During a brief press conference the previous evening, McAuliffe had claimed, “This could have been a much worse day. We planned for a long time for today’s incidents.” | During a brief press conference the previous evening, McAuliffe had claimed, “This could have been a much worse day. We planned for a long time for today’s incidents.” |
| But figures on both sides of the protest said the police response had fallen short. | But figures on both sides of the protest said the police response had fallen short. |
| Cornel West, a Harvard professor who had gathered in Charlottesville on Saturday with a group of Baptist ministers, claimed: “The police didn’t do anything in terms of protecting the people of the community, the clergy.” | Cornel West, a Harvard professor who had gathered in Charlottesville on Saturday with a group of Baptist ministers, claimed: “The police didn’t do anything in terms of protecting the people of the community, the clergy.” |
| The Washington Post reported that West had noted: “If it hadn’t been for the anti-fascists protecting us from the neo-fascists, we would have been crushed like cockroaches.” | The Washington Post reported that West had noted: “If it hadn’t been for the anti-fascists protecting us from the neo-fascists, we would have been crushed like cockroaches.” |
| The white nationalist leader and “Unite the Right” organizer Richard Spencer claimed that police failed marchers on his side of the political spectrum. “We came here as a demonstration of our movement,” he said. “And we were effectively thrown to the wolves.” | The white nationalist leader and “Unite the Right” organizer Richard Spencer claimed that police failed marchers on his side of the political spectrum. “We came here as a demonstration of our movement,” he said. “And we were effectively thrown to the wolves.” |
| US news | |
| Race issues | |
| Virginia | |
| news | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |