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Unite the Right: White nationalists outnumbered at Washington rally | Unite the Right: White nationalists outnumbered at Washington rally |
(35 minutes later) | |
White nationalists have staged a rally near the White House in Washington, but were far outnumbered by counter-protesters. | White nationalists have staged a rally near the White House in Washington, but were far outnumbered by counter-protesters. |
About 20 far-right supporters attended the demonstration, which came a year after violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead. | About 20 far-right supporters attended the demonstration, which came a year after violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead. |
Hundreds of chanting opponents staged their own rally nearby, denouncing white supremacy and racism. | Hundreds of chanting opponents staged their own rally nearby, denouncing white supremacy and racism. |
The two sides were kept apart by a heavy police presence. | The two sides were kept apart by a heavy police presence. |
About 400 people had initially been expected at the "Unite the Right 2" rally but on the day nowhere near that number took part. | About 400 people had initially been expected at the "Unite the Right 2" rally but on the day nowhere near that number took part. |
The white nationalists were escorted by police officers to Lafayette Square, in front of the White House, and were heckled along the route by a larger group of counter-protesters chanting "shame" and "get out of my city". | The white nationalists were escorted by police officers to Lafayette Square, in front of the White House, and were heckled along the route by a larger group of counter-protesters chanting "shame" and "get out of my city". |
Tight security was in place and authorities banned all firearms from the area. | Tight security was in place and authorities banned all firearms from the area. |
After about two hours, under heavy rain, the rally ended and supporters were escorted out of the area in two police vans. | After about two hours, under heavy rain, the rally ended and supporters were escorted out of the area in two police vans. |
A larger group of counter-protesters meanwhile gathered at Freedom Plaza, at one end of Pennsylvania Avenue that leads to the US Capitol, chanting and waving banners. | A larger group of counter-protesters meanwhile gathered at Freedom Plaza, at one end of Pennsylvania Avenue that leads to the US Capitol, chanting and waving banners. |
'Racist message drowned out' | |
At the scene: Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC News, Washington | |
As a small group of white supremacists gathered for their second "Unite the Right" rally, the rain began to fall. | |
Much like the sodden pavements outside the White House, the follow up to last year's rally in Charlottesville was nothing more than a damp squib. | |
Organisers had applied for a permit for as many as 400 people - but in the end they couldn't gather much more than 20. The counter-protesters came out in much larger numbers, a mix of locals with hand-made signs; Black Lives Matter activists, and also some Antifa - left-wing activists - dressed head to toe in black. | |
It all passed off peacefully, to the relief of many who remember last year's violent clashes. | |
Police had worked hard to ensure the Unite the Right group was well away from counter-protesters. If today showed anything, it was that a message of racism was well and truly drowned out, in more ways than one. | |
Last year's far-right rally in Charlottesville was one of the largest gatherings of white nationalists in America in decades. | Last year's far-right rally in Charlottesville was one of the largest gatherings of white nationalists in America in decades. |
The march had been organised 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 march had been organised to protest against plans to remove a statue of a general who had fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the US Civil War. |
Heather Heyer, 32, was killed after a neo-Nazi driver ploughed his car into a group of anti-racist protesters. | Heather Heyer, 32, was killed after a neo-Nazi driver ploughed his car into a group of anti-racist protesters. |
Dozens of other people were injured in violence between the two groups. | Dozens of other people were injured in violence between the two groups. |