The rally dubbed "United the Right' resulted in clashes between far right protesters and people carrying out a counter-demonstration. Pro-Confederate protesters were seen to carry torches.
The protest's declared aim is to "affirm the right of Southerners and white people to organize for their interests just like any other group is able to do, free of persecution, as well as to "unify the right-wing against a totalitarian Communist crackdown" and to protest "displacement level immigration policies" in the US and Europe. It has been massively criticized as a "white nationalist" event.
The same people who say "Get over it! Hillary lost!" are defending a monument from a war lost 100+ years ago. #charlottesville pic.twitter.com/5q53DnWycQ
— Farrah Alexander (@WineCoffeeLove) 12 августа 2017 г.
This was the response in Ferguson when blk ppl protested. Where is this now? America has a big race problem. #Charlottesville #AMJoy pic.twitter.com/aDulgyAHTc
— Jim Nichols (@RoSquated) 12 августа 2017 г.
Police declared unlawful assembly. #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/s2FHjI3972
— ACLU of Virginia (@ACLUVA) 12 августа 2017 г.
Police in Charlottesville are equipped with riot gear as several pro-Black Lives Matter anti-fascist groups decided to organize a counter-demonstration in the city. They have ordered to clear the park. Media reports suggested that tear gas and armored vehicles have been used to stop the clashes.
Exactly at noon, when rally was set to start, cops have cleared the park. Have a feeling this isn't the end tho pic.twitter.com/vyewmbeBZl
— Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) 12 августа 2017 г.
Armored vehicles and tear gas it looks like. Cops clearing the park #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/SCGYTorTyY
— Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) 12 августа 2017 г.
The ‘Unite the Right Free Speech Rally’ came 3 months after alt-right activists held a torch-lit march against the removal of Confederate statue in Charlottesville and were confronted by counter-protesters.
