Charlottesville, Virginia — Charlottesville became ground zero today as a white nationalist rally known as the “Unite the Right” which was planned for Saturday to protest the removal of a statue of the Confederate General Robert E. Lee was met with an equal amount of counter-protesters and quickly turned violent and now has claimed one life.
Prior to skirmishes breaking out at the Emancipation Park there was a tense standoff with white nationalists waving Nazi flags shouting racial slurs and anti-gay rhetoric were met with an equally aggressive counter-protest. Among the white nationalist presence were an unknown armed militia group decked out in their full “G.I. Joe” milsim regalia encircled the white nationalist group to provide protection.
Then in thunder-clap surprise the angry verbal vitriol being thrown by both sides graduated to violence as both groups got into fistacuffs with minor injuries on both sides being reported.
At least 2 people have been injured in violent clashes in #Charlottesville, VA ahead of a white nationalist rally https://t.co/dzg92WQnHM
— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) August 12, 2017
Soon after the first few violent clashes started, the Virginia State Police deployed in riot gear and declared the Unite The Right rally as an unlawful assembly and began clearing the park of both protests using billy clubs, riot shields, and pepper spray. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe seeing the violence only getting worse declared a ‘state of emergency’ and as of this report Virginia National Guard were deployed.
Then in an act of what can only be abject rage and terror, an unknown person drove a vehicle into a large group of counter-protesters sending people into the air and pinning a mother and daughter between two vehicles. The screams of panic and “MEDIC!” can be heard from the stunned crowd as the driver then backed away at high-speed leaving the scene.
BREAKING: University of Virginia Medical Center tells NYT it has treated 19 people injured in #Charlottesville protests. 1 person has died
— Brian M. Rosenthal (@brianmrosenthal) August 12, 2017
Currently it has been confirmed that one person is dead along with 18 more with injuries ranging from minimal to life threatening.
#BREAKING: I just watched a car plow through dozens of protesters. Extremely heavy injuries #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/rE8DWUmrfD
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) August 12, 2017
WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT:
Right now Charlottesville is reeling from what looks like an attack by an unknown person or persons. Vocal outcry from those on the scene are demanding this be labeled as an act of ‘domestic terrorism’ as this ploy to use vehicles as a weapon has largely been championed by radical Islamist terror groups like the Islamic State who have called this type of attack “The Human Lawnmower.” It is feared that more violence may erupt as the already saddening day of rage in Charlottesville goes into night.
This is a developing situation and SOFREP will be tracking this story and providing updates as they come in.
Feature image courtesy of: Twitter
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I've already said i felt bad for the accident. That people need to stay out of the way for responders. Instead of in their face with phones. They can either lead, follow of get the fuck out of the way. You are going to disagree with whatever i say. So i threw a pun in there.
Pretty sad comment, you claim know the political affiliation of the people that were injured and killed in this terrorist attack? The lives of "retarded liberals" are as sacred and protected as yours. Heather Heyer from all accounts would be person I would be proud to call friend.
Well hell. The next time some retarded librals get ran over and nobody helps. i will just say, the guy with the camera is protected under the constitution. He is doing nothing wrong.
Yes, Glik v. Cunniffe, 655 F.3d 78 (1st Cir. 2011) applies even though the filming may not involve police officers or "other officials". While you may find it morally and ethically reprehensible there is a right under the first amendment to film and distribute imagery found in the public domain. As to the duty to assist, In the United States, as of 2009 only ten states had laws on the books requiring that people at least notify law enforcement of and/or seek aid for strangers in peril under certain conditions: California, Florida,Hawaii,Massachusetts,Minnesota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. - Since these events occurred in Virginia the bystanders were under no legal obligation to assist or even notify EMS. There are exceptions for those entrusted with public safety like firefighters, EMS and police as well as Parents, teachers and other "obligated individuals". As a person who has taken an oath to serve and protect I will always do my best to help those in need - Having also sworn to defend and support the constitution I will do that as well.
Just to clarify. Are you telling me, that someone getting assaulted with life threatening injuries, that anyone who doesn't help in some form (like a phone call) instead stands there and takes pictures/video for their social media is protected under the constitution?