White supremacists marched through the University of Virginia Friday night(Courtesy Andrew Shurtleff/The Daily Progress)
Dozens of white nationalists marched through the University of Virginia
campus on Friday night carrying torches as they chanted “You will not
replace us.”
The demonstrators, who also yelled "blood and soil" — a phrase tied to
Nazi ideology — made their way through the Charlottesville campus before
encircling a group of counter-protesters gathered around a statue of
Thomas Jefferson.
A fight broke out, and some of the white nationalists swung their tiki torches at people, according to the Daily Progress.
Members of both sides were reportedly hit with pepper spray, and several people were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Police arrived on campus, declared it an unlawful assembly, and ordered
the crowds to disperse. At least one person was arrested.
The event was a precursor to the Unite the Right rally scheduled for
Saturday, when a number of far-right groups are expected to make a show
of force in response to the city's decision to remove a statue of
Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from Emancipation Park.
Sharing a photo of the torch-bearing march on Friday, Unite the Right
organizer Jason Kessler wrote on Twitter, "Incredible moment for white
people who've had it up to here & aren't going to take it anymore.
Tomorrow we #UnitetheRight #Charlottesville."
Prominent white nationalist Richard Spencer, who led a similar march in
Charlottesville in May, was also at the rally on Friday night.
Mayor Mike Signer released a statement denouncing the march.
"When I think of torches, I want to think of the Statue of Liberty," he wrote.
"When I think of candlelight, I want to think of prayer vigils. Today,
in 2017, we are instead seeing a cowardly parade of hatred, bigotry,
racism and intolerance march down the lawns of the architect of our Bill
of Rights.
"I am beyond disgusted by this unsanctioned and despicable display of visual intimidation on a college campus."
The Unite the Right rally, which is expected to draw 2,000 to 6,000
people, could be the "largest white supremacist gathering in a decade,"
according to the Anti-Defamation League.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe warned people to stay away from the event on
Saturday, noting that Virginia State Police and the Virginia National
Guard will be monitoring the situation.
Kessler's attorneys filed a lawsuit against Charlottesville on
Thursday, claiming their attempts to relocate Saturday's event to
McIntire Park, due to safety considerations, violates his right to free
speech.
He is represented by the Rutherford Institute and the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia.
Watch the video below:
0 comments:
Post a Comment