A "Unite the Right" rally was planned for Saturday, August 12, 2017 to protest against the removal of a statue of Confederate icon General Robert E Lee.


Described as one of the largest white supremacist events in recent US history, it was organised by Jason Kessler, a former journalist and a member of the Proud Boys, an ultra-nationalist group.

The day before, on Friday, marchers descended on the University of Virginia carrying torches and yelling slogans "white lives matter" and "blood and soil".
Protesters gathered again on Saturday, and clashed with counter-demonstrators.

At 11:28am (15:35 GMT) a local state of emergency was declared by the City of Charlottesville and the County of Albemarle.

At 1:42pm (17:42 GMT) a speeding car rammed into anti-racist protesters, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring at least 19 others. 

The speeding car fled the scene but was soon located and stopped by police.

James Alex Fields Jr of Ohio has been charged with second-degree murder and other counts following the incident. 

A police helicopter also crashed while en route to the rally on Saturday, killing two state troopers. 

In the following days numerous conservative outlets seemed to defend the nazi protestors, and to equate them with left leaning protestors.

Last edited by Goose (8/11/2018 1:50 pm)