White nationalists holding tiki torches marched Friday night through the University of Virginia in Charlottesville ahead of Saturday's far-right Unite the Right rally.
Chanting "white lives matter," "you will not replace us," and the Nazi-associated phrase "blood and soil," some of the white nationalists engaged with counterprotesters and scuffles broke out.
Police arrived on campus, declared it an unlawful assembly, and ordered the crowds to disperse.
It is unclear if anyone was injured or arrested.
Teresa A. Sullivan, president of the University of Virginia, said in a statement Friday, "I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the hateful behavior displayed by torch-bearing protestors that marched on our Grounds this evening. I strongly condemn the unprovoked assault on members of our community, including University personnel who were attempting to maintain order."
Sullivan added, "Law enforcement continues to investigate the incident, and it is my hope that any individuals responsible for criminal acts are held accountable. The violence displayed on Grounds is intolerable and is entirely inconsistent with the University’s values."
Virginia governor orders National Guard on standby ahead of 'alt-right' rally
Mayor of Charlottesville calls pro-Confederate rallies 'horrific'
Charlottesville mayor Mike Signer said in a statement of the torch-bearing white nationalists, "I have seen tonight the images of torches on the Grounds of the University of Virginia. When I think of torches, I want to think of the Statue of Liberty. When I think of candelight, 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, slated to take place in McIntire Park, is in part a response to the city's decision to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from a municipal park. A judge on Friday ruled that the rally could continue at the permitted location, even though the city had asked it be moved to a larger venue.
Virignia governor Terry McAuliffe said he finds the rally "abhorrent."
In a statement Friday he said, "Many of the individuals coming to Charlottesville tomorrow are doing so in order to express viewpoints many people, including me, find abhorrent. As long as that expression is peaceful, that is their right. But it is also the right of every American to deny those ideas more attention than they deserve."
And the Anti-Defamation League said the rally is "the latest indication that the darkest corners of society are emboldened to come forward and openly parade their bigotry on main street. Hate has no place in our communities."
Comments
(Short Spike)
(Long Spike)
8 months into Trump's presidency and Nazis are proudly walking the streets and we're on the brink of nuclear war. Looking good, Republicans.
(Old Spike)
Damn, they're just now proudly walking the streets. Weird. I guess this report from 2015 is a lie the. http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2015/04/19/No-violence-at-neo-Nazi-rally.html
Nobody is on the brink of nuclear war either, dipshit.
(Long Spike)
I never ONCE gave a shit nor even fucking heard the President talking about North Korea for eight goddamn years. And I should have been more clear: they're KILLING Americans on the streets now. We had Canada mosque man, Oregon train man, and now yo' boy in Virginia. That's +3 more than I can remember off the top of my head in Obama's 8-years. Go on and dig me up some white supremacist killings from 2008-2016 or may I suggest you instead talk about Muslim violence instead because you're a big fan of moving the goal posts.
(Short Spike)
Damn, they're just now proudly walking the streets.
Pretty obvious where you would stand.
(Old Spike)
Oh yea, and where's that coward?
(Long Spike)
Trudeau negotiated for the release of their pastor. Kim Jong Un called Trump's bluff :"do not threaten again or there will be fire and fury", hours later North Korea makes a threat targeting US Military base in South Korea. This makes it look like the US doesn't back up its words , words that weren't vetted by Military Officials, but Trump used to look cool in front of his buddies while on a golfing vacation.
"If he utters one threat in the form of an overt threat - which by the way he has been uttering for years and his family has been uttering for years - or he does anything with respect to Guam or any place else that's an American territory or an American ally, he will truly regret it and he will regret it fast."
Trump’s initial warning from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, came after China’s state-owned newspaper the Global Times said Beijing would intervene if the US attacks North Korea first to “overthrow” it but would “stay neutral” if Kim launches the initial assault .
Tensions have been escalating between the US and North Korea in recent days.
Pyongyang has warned it plans to launch a nuclear strike on the US territory of Guam after Trump announced threats against the US would be met with “fire and fury”.
(Old Spike)
Kinda sucks how anything associated with "right wing" at a grass roots level immediately gets bad press. Just another instance of the allied propaganda against the Nazis being alive & well. That said, I gotta admit, this is a bit more aggro-looking than a drum circle >: )
Also, why do people call this "Alt Right"? They're white nationalists. Not the same thing.
(Long Spike)
Until they can differentiate themselves "the alt right" are white nationalists.
(Old Spike)
I think alt right is mainly a pushback against the behaviour of the extreme left - SJW / BLM etc - in recent years.
Telling white people to be ashamed of themselves because of the colour of their skin is a step backwards & instinctively a lot of people know it.
Pepe, Kekistan, Trump & white nationalism are all just trivial aspects to the ideology IMO. None of them are important.
(Short Spike)
Tell that to the dead 32 year old woman and the 5 other critically injured people who got rammed by the white pride car.
(Short Spike)
(Short Spike)