SaC's Coverage of the Alt Right Rally in Charlottesville, Va.
Protesters converged in Charlottesville, Va on August 12th, 2017 to show their disapproval of the purposed removal of the Robert E. Lee statue from Empacipation Park. Most were white supremacists and KKK members. Protesters of other races also attended sending the total number of people into the upper hundreds to the low thoushands.
After a few hours and a some small skirmishes, the event went completely sour as armed combatants arrived with baseball bats. Shortly later, massive fights broke out. The police declared the event unlawful assembly and the govenor declared a city wide state of emergency.
As police and malitias attempted to break up the riot, a car plowed into a group of protesters walking peacefully, killing one and injuring 19 others. The driver was arrest among other arrests. The event was halted before it ever got started.
James Alex Fields Jr. has been charged with second degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding, and failure to stop at the scene of an acident that resulted in death.
Below are photos, videos, and news reports that have been compiled.
BREAKING NEWS!!! Police Have Declared "Unlawful Assembly" as Protest Turns Violent.
A hospital official says one dead, 19 injured after car plows into a group of protesters in downtown Charlottesville, according to the Associated Press. Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency on Saturday amid violent clashes at an alt-right rally in Charlottesville.
"I am disgusted by the hatred, bigotry and violence these protesters have brought to our state over the past 24 hours. The actions I have taken are intended to assist local government and restore public safety," McAuliffe said in a statement.
State Police said protesters were arrested and authorities declared the gathering unlawful.
Fist fights and screaming matches erupted before the rally was set to begin, according to CNN.
Video of vehicle ramming protesters
Video of the aftermath
Virginia State Police Chopper Crashes In Charlottesville
Virginia State Police identified the two officers killed in a helicopter crash.
The pilot, Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen, 48, of Midlothian, Va., and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates of Quinton, Va., died at the scene.
The Bell 407 helicopter was assisting public safety resources with the ongoing situation in Charlottesville.
No one else was injured.
“Our state police and law enforcement family at-large are mourning this tragic outcome to an already challenging day,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “Lieutenant Cullen was a highly-respected professional aviator and Trooper-Pilot Bates was a welcome addition to the Aviation Unit, after a distinguished assignment as a special agent with our Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Their deaths are a tremendous loss to our agency and the Commonwealth.”
Lt. Cullen graduated from the Virginia State Police Academy in 1994. He joined the VSP Aviation Unit in 1999.
Trooper-Pilot Berkes graduated from the Academy in 2004. He just joined the unit in July.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Virginia State Police, the FAA, and the NTSB are investigating. State Police says there is no indication foul play was a factor in the accident.
CBS Coverage
Rob Kapp's Covereage, "Reporter Down"
Philip Haddad's Camera Roll
Theodore Whitelow of Breaking Through Reports LIVE From The Clash in Charlottesville
Theodore Whitelow was live and has several videos of the event on his Facebook page, Breaking Through
Footage courtesy of Rob Kapp
Film courtesy of Rob Kapp, Augustus Invictus, WHSV, and Unicorn Riots