White Nationalist Rally in Virginia Ends With 1 Person Dead, 19 Injured After Car Crash [VIDEO]
#BREAKING: New video emerges of car that crashed into pedestrians at rally in #Charlottesville VA (ABC) pic.twitter.com/69GNBoCaoW
— News Media Watchdog (@RealNMWD) August 12, 2017
It was a violent day in Charlottesville, Va., as one person was killed and 19 others were injured when a speeding car slammed into demonstrators where a “Unite the Right” rally was being held. The single fatality happened after the car crash that occurred at the scene where white nationalists and members of the KKK clashed with counter-protesters from groups as diverse as Black Lives Matters and members of the clergy.
"I am heartbroken that a life has been lost here. I urge all people of good will -- go home," Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer tweeted on Twitter.
The city also announced that there were 15 other injuries associated with the scheduled rally.
In the video above, crowds of people are walking down a street when a silver or gray car speeds down the street and rams into more cars ahead of it amid the crowd of demonstrators. The driver backs up and rapidly flees the scene. ABC News reports that police were able to arrest the driver but didn't divulge the identity of the person who commandeered the vehicle.
The rally was shut down by police after Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency in the city and police ordered the crowds to evacuate Lee Park, where a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee is slated to be removed.
President Donald Trump condemned the "egregious display of violence" in Charlottesville but stopped short of assessing blame in the violent clash between white nationalist demonstrators and counter-protestors. "We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides. On many sides," Trump said during an emergency press conference.
The rally have already drawn the ire from politicians, social activists and concerned folks on social media. You can read some of the reactions below.
Video of car hitting anti-racist protestors in #charlottesville (video @tmz) pic.twitter.com/60R0N1dCup
— BallerAlert (@balleralert) August 12, 2017