A state of emergency has been declared around Charlottesville, Virginia, amid clashes between “Unite the Right” white nationalist demonstrators and “counterprotesters,” including the presence of Antifa.
Gov. Terry McAullife declared a state of emergency shortly before 11 a.m. ET, moments before the rally was scheduled to begin at noon at Emancipation Park in Charlottesville, according to a tweet sent from the Democratic governor’s Twitter account. Using megaphones, police declared an unlawful assembly at about 11:40 a.m., and gave a five-minute warning to leave Emancipation Park, where hundreds of neoNazis, Ku Klux Klans members and other white nationalists had gathered to protest the removal of a Confederate statue. They were met by equal numbers of “counterprotesters,” including Black Lives Matter activists and Princeton professor Cornel West. Both the city of Charlottesville and the Albemarle County have declared a local state of emergency, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.
**This is a developing story and will be updated** (all times eastern) ***
10:50:
JUST IN: FBI opens civil rights investigation into circumstances of "deadly vehicular incident" in Charlottesville. https://t.co/KAXR1HnB4D pic.twitter.com/drmpvAve5O
— ABC News (@ABC) August 13, 2017
10:40: Suspect’s mother tells the AP that her son said he had gotten some time off from work and was going to a rally:
Samantha Bloom, of Ohio, confirmed details about her son’s car and his trip to Virginia, saying she received a text from him last week that said he’d gotten some time off from work and was going to a rally.
She said her son hadn’t given her any details about the rally but that she told him “to be careful” and to peaceful.
10:30:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of
Lt Jay Cullen and Tpr Berke M.M. Bates & members
of the #VirginiaStatePolice #LODD @VSPPIO pic.twitter.com/DkDafTjBTK— LT. Paul Resnick (@NPD_PIO) August 13, 2017
NEW: Virginia gov. on deaths of Virginia State Police officers: "These heroes were a part of our family and we are simply heartbroken.” pic.twitter.com/VCurKrWgI7
— ABC News (@ABC) August 13, 2017
10:25:
A drone captured the terrifying moment a car plowed into the crowd in Charlottesville, Virginia pic.twitter.com/9YbX73bhCS
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 13, 2017
10:20: We’ll see.
Guessing that the MSM coverage of James Fields will be nothing like the MSM coverage of the Alexandria shooter James Hodgkinson https://t.co/fuAqz04uNK
— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) August 13, 2017
10:10:
People are asking why VA suspect not charged with terrorism. Easily answered. This is not a federal prosecution at this point.
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) August 13, 2017
I urge the Department of Justice to immediately investigate and prosecute this grotesque act of domestic terrorism. pic.twitter.com/AwJLsfUEHl
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) August 13, 2017
9:55:
JUST IN: Virginia State Police identify H. Jay Cullen and Berke M.M. Bates as colleagues killed in helicopter crash near Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/C57bxsUx6j
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 13, 2017
9:50:
Suspect accused of driving car into #Charlottesville protesters identified as James Alex Fields pic.twitter.com/KTyLrrufkW
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 13, 2017
9:20: Indivisible groups organizing:
Tonight and tomorrow, Indivisible groups, along with our friends at Women’s March, Democracy for America, Working Families Party, Resist Here, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Mi Familia Vota, OurRevolution, Million Hoodies Movement for Justice, People’s Action, Courage Campaign, Greenpeace, #AllOfUs, #Resist, 350.org, OFA, United We Dream, Win Without War and others will come together in solidarity with our brave friends in Charlottesville who put themselves at risk to fight against white supremacy.
Attend an event in your community to show that you’re standing with Charlottesville.
9:10: Never a bad time for these people to talk about… gun control.
"I condemn White Supremacy, but vote for Trump's agenda" is the new "I send thoughts and prayers to the victim, but vote against gun safety"
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) August 13, 2017
9:05:
COMMUNITY ALERT: City Council issues emergency ordinance on assemblies #cvilleaug12 pic.twitter.com/QrWXDnF7Ti
— Charlottesville City (@CvilleCityHall) August 13, 2017
9:00:
It's sad what's going on in Charlottesville. Is this the direction our country is heading? Make America Great Again huh?! He said that🏾♂️
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 12, 2017
Our youth deserves better!! Flat out
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 12, 2017
8:50:
"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion…" pic.twitter.com/InZ58zkoAm
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 13, 2017
"People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love…"
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 13, 2017
"…For love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." – Nelson Mandela
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 13, 2017
8:35: Breitbart News reporters on the ground report that pretty much the entire downtown mall and “corner” area are closed for business tonight.
8:15:
My reporting tonight: car in #Charlottesville crash registered to 20yo James Fields of Ohio; man w/ same name, age, town booked for murder
— Jack Gillum (@jackgillum) August 13, 2017
Being held without bail on murder, other charges in Charlottesville hit-and-run: James Alex Fields, Jr., 20, of Maumee, Ohio.
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) August 13, 2017
7:55: Always the same people:
I repeat: Those who said HRC would be worse should hang their heads in shame.
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) August 12, 2017
7:45:
White supremacists aren't patriots, they're traitors- Americans must unite against hatred & bigotry #Charlottesville https://t.co/Zr1Jg9jBXu
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) August 12, 2017
7:30: On MSNBC, Rob Reiner calls out Jared Kushner for not condemning the white supremacists.
7:00:
Deepest condolences to the families & fellow officers of the VA State Police who died today. You're all among the best this nation produces.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017
Condolences to the family of the young woman killed today, and best regards to all of those injured, in Charlottesville, Virginia. So sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017
6:58: Watch Breitbart’s Raheem Kassam question Gov. McAuliffe about Antifa.
I just asked @GovernorVA if he wanted to condemn antifa as well as neo Nazi groups. He heard. Refused to answer. pic.twitter.com/W7vcH4fSI0
— Raheem Kassam (@RaheemKassam) August 12, 2017
6:55: Read Breitbart’s Jerome Hudson’s story here: Celebrities Blame Trump for Violence in Charlottesville: ‘His Silence Condones This’
6:42: CHARLOTTESVILLE–Breitbart News asked McAuliffe to condemn the Antifa radicals and did not respond. See video here
6:41:
Charlottesville police chief says violence was "premeditated," suspect is in custody https://t.co/rtTBkVpHdc
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 12, 2017
6:40:
“Please, go home and never come back. Take your hatred and take your bigotry,” @GovernorVA says. https://t.co/H9n7JJUntx pic.twitter.com/0xyBvaZA14
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 12, 2017
6:26: McAuliffe said he spoke to Trump earlier and said they need to work together to “bring people together. 6:25:
NEW: VA Gov. Terry McAuliffe confirms THREE dead from Charlottesville hit and run
— Marianna Sotomayor (@MariannaNBCNews) August 12, 2017
Gov. Terry McAuliffe: I have a message to all the white supremacists and the Nazis who came into Charlottesville: "Go home… Shame on you"
— Ted Davis (@TedDavisSAV) August 12, 2017
6:22: WATCH: McAuliffe press conference on Breitbart News’s Facebook Live
https://www.facebook.com/Breitbart/videos/10159643232850354/
6:15:
BREAKING: Two killed in state police helicopter crash. https://t.co/b6AT7q5kBr
— The Daily Progress (@DailyProgress) August 12, 2017
Police won't say who owns aircraft. Only two people on board. Both died in crash. Helicopter burned after hitting ground.
— Dan Schutte (@schuttedan) August 12, 2017
6:00: Breitbart News on the Ground Inside Albemarle County Office Building for press conference. Breitbart News will be streaming on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/Breitbart/
5:30:
Scott Adams watches Charlottesville turn hate into an American sport https://t.co/Fw7qP2M0hq
— Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) August 12, 2017
5:15:
BREAKING: On scene here, I'm being told a state police helicopter has crashed in the woods near Old Farm Road.
— Dean Seal (@JDeanSeal) August 12, 2017
5:00: From Breitbart News reporters on the ground: Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe arriving: video here
4:57: Are the legacy media folks tweeting from New York and D.C. there like this reporter on the ground?
https://twitter.com/TaylorLorenz/status/896462416548057088
https://twitter.com/TaylorLorenz/status/896462280904364032
https://twitter.com/TaylorLorenz/status/896455451902128129
4:55:
https://twitter.com/TaylorLorenz/status/896468797653000192
4:51: From Breitbart News Reporters on the Ground in Charlottesville:
4:45:
Trump did what presidents do. Called for unity and peace and an investigation
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) August 12, 2017
4:43: See tweets below about media giving fringe groups oxygen:
Same exact White Supremacist gatherings every year. Media forgets they tried tying Trump to last years event and it didn't work
— MARK SIMONE (@MarkSimoneNY) August 12, 2017
4:35: Thought we weren’t allowed to use the word “force” no longer:
Members of Congress can't just condemn this with words, they need to force the Jusice Department to investigate and prosecute terrorism.
— Robby Mook (@RobbyMook) August 12, 2017
4:32: Why is Jeb! tweeting so late on this?
The white supremacists and their bigotry do not represent our great country. All Americans should condemn this vile hatred. #Charlottesville
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) August 12, 2017
4:31:
The hate grown at home. https://t.co/3GABMgCCEM pic.twitter.com/tqytA0vsrQ
— Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) August 12, 2017
4:29: How many consultants did it take to craft this for her?
Every minute we allow this to persist through tacit encouragement or inaction is a disgrace, & corrosive to our values.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 12, 2017
4:25:
First Russia, now the media will try to create some sort of fake relationship between Trump and the White Supremacists.
— MARK SIMONE (@MarkSimoneNY) August 12, 2017
4:20:
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 12, 2017
America only needs one torch
It's bigger and brighter than yours#Charlottesville 🗽 pic.twitter.com/yDusNqFphW— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) August 12, 2017
4:10: Makes you wonder about how legacy media are covering along with their typical band of “Never Trump” useful idiots who seek head-pat after head-pat.
Dark symbiosis between the press (me included) and Spencer's tiny fringe, which needs attention like oxygen.
— Nick Confessore (@nickconfessore) August 12, 2017
4:05 PM:
People chanting "Love has already won" in #Charlottesville. Sorry but no, ya'll hate just as much as the other side.
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) August 12, 2017
4:02 PM: UPDATE from UVA Hospital:
NBC News: UVA hospital says 19 people have been injured and confirms 1 person has died as a result of car incident in Charlottesville.
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) August 12, 2017
4:00 PM:
"White supremacy" crap is worst kind of racism-it's EVIL and perversion of God's truth to ever think our Creator values some above others.
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) August 12, 2017
3:54 PM:
Reason #953 media is loathed. Question to Trump:"Do you want the support of these white nationalists groups that they say they support you?"
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) August 12, 2017
3:53: File these instantaneous tweets away:
Folks, the president is bad. Like, zero redeeming qualities bad.
— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) August 12, 2017
President Trump declines to specifically condemn white supremacist and neo-Nazis. Breath-taking
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) August 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/JeffreyGoldberg/status/896456416504016897
Folks, the president is bad. Like, zero redeeming qualities bad.
— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) August 12, 2017
This is the same president who devoted so much time to lancing any political leader who wouldn't use the phrase "radical Islamic terror."
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) August 12, 2017
.@ananavarro: Donald Trump, call a spade a spade. Call white supremacists, white supremacists.
— Adrian Carrasquillo (@Carrasquillo) August 12, 2017
3:47: SAY WHAT?
Trump's refusal to condemn Nazis chanting his name shows how far flattery goes w/ him. In America you can be monsters if you praise Trump.
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) August 12, 2017
3:45: Interesting immediate commentary from Chuck Todd. Why does he think Trump’s statement may have “done the opposite … ?
Hard to see how that statement from the POTUS will do anything to tamp things down. He may have just done the opposite
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) August 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/ArthurSchwartz/status/896466846639050752
3:43: Joe Biden:
No. Not in America. We must be stronger, more determined and more united than ever. Racism and hate have no place here. #charlottesville
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 12, 2017
3:41 PM:
Corinne Geller, Virginia State Police Spox: "This is not a good day for Charlottesville. This is not a good day for the Commonwealth." pic.twitter.com/1UTBmTCsco
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 12, 2017
3:40: Attorney Gen. Jeff Sessions’ statement:
JUST IN: Attorney General Jeff Sessions responds to violence in #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/7UutHOWi5a
— Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCBS) August 12, 2017
3:38 PM: President Trump condemns the “egregious” acts of hate and violence on all sides and calls for a “swift” restoration of law and order. Trump says we are all Americans first and we love our God, country, our flag, and who we are. Trump says we need to get this situation “straightened out” and need to “study it” to see what is going wrong.
TRUMP: “We must remember this truth, no matter our color, creed, religion or political party, we are all Americans first"
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) August 12, 2017
.@POTUS: "What is vital now is a swift restoration of law and order and the protection of innocent lives." pic.twitter.com/SvIX1l1UHJ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 12, 2017
TRUMP: “We condem in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred” – “from all sides”
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) August 12, 2017
"Not Donald Trump, not Barack Obama…" @realDonaldTrump says this hatred and bigotry has gone on too long.
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) August 12, 2017
President Trump says he is closely following "terrible events" in Charlottesville; condemns bigotry "on many sides."
— John R Parkinson (@jparkABC) August 12, 2017
3:35 PM: Charlottesville mayor reports one person has died:
I am heartbroken that a life has been lost here. I urge all people of good will–go home.
— Mike Signer (@MikeSigner) August 12, 2017
3:33 PM: Driver arrested:
https://twitter.com/nicholasgraffis/status/896447248661331968
3:32 PM:
Yes, but how can one virtue-signal about a Brony convention? https://t.co/tyZJeFsafi
— Justin Raimondo (@JustinRaimondo) August 12, 2017
Worth noting there is a Brony convention in Baltimore today with significantly higher attendance https://t.co/Zwurs3kZ9E
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) August 12, 2017
3:30 PM:
Enough calling it "ALT-RIGHT"…this isn't a grunge music genre. It's a gathering of xenophobic cowardice
— Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) August 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/katiepack/status/896242275948343297
3:29 PM: Trump getting ready to speak from Bedminster:
Join me live from Bedminster, New Jersey: https://t.co/P3cRVvE0cY
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017
3:27 PM: Why do legacy media networks put this ticking time bomb on the air? Rick “put a bullet in Trump” Wilson also asked whether Trump pays Coulter more for “anal.”
This Administration has *at least* three senior White House officials who are cheering for the Nazis in #charlottesville.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) August 12, 2017
3:25: Right On, Ms. Coulter:
Ann Coulter demands University of Minnesota fire Richard Painter over Charlottesville. https://t.co/DCyvbVpdQQ
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) August 12, 2017
3:20 PM:
.@VaNationalGuard ready to assist local law enforcement in #Charlottesville, can be identified by MP patch #cvilleaug12 pic.twitter.com/xkz2SqZlAR
— Va. National Guard (@VaNationalGuard) August 12, 2017
My statement on the events in Charlottesville https://t.co/rdw2kxwLmq pic.twitter.com/lR9KF7FtWe
— Ed Gillespie (@EdWGillespie) August 12, 2017
3:15 PM: Interesting observation from Jack Shafer:
Without logos or signs, I can't reliably tell the Nazis from the anti-Nazis in the TV shots.
— Jack Shafer (@jackshafer) August 12, 2017
3 p.m. ET – It appears the “counterprotesters” have now turned on the police:
Alt right gone from park. Now counter demonstrators chanting F the police@l
— Sheryl Gay Stolberg (@SherylNYT) August 12, 2017
2:45 p.m. ET – Celebrities also use the opportunity to bash Trump. According to Gossip Cop:
Alyssa Milano, who deemed Friday night’s protest an example of “Trump’s America.” Mark Ruffalo cracked, “Got the ole fashioned Nazi feeling don’t it?” Katie Couric called it “a chilling scene.” And Piper Perabo told followers, “I just donated to @naacp & Charlottesville Pride @cvillepride. I am outraged at what happened last night. Counter protest march link below.” Andy Richter ripped the participants as “human race traitors,” while Rosie O’Donnell said it was evidence of “THE TRUMP EFFECT.” She added, “#25thAmendmentNow #stopTRUMP.” Debra Messing retweeted the activist DeRay McKesson, who argued, “If black folks were carrying torches on a college campus right now the administration would’ve already called the National Guard.” Kristen Bell replied to him, “Sad and true.” Chelsea Clinton took note of a tweet that said of the white protesters, “Imagine if these people ever faced actual oppression.” She added to it, “This. All of this.” In response to some of the chants, Jeremy Piven quipped, “That sounds reasonable … oh wait.”
2:15 p.m. ET – The Associated Press is reporting that a vehicle plowed into a crowd, with at least one person on the ground receiving medical treatment after the incident. A video of a car crash has emerged, though it’s not immediately clear if it’s the same incident (language NSFW):
#BREAKING: Video of driving through crowd of protesters in #Charlottesville pic.twitter.com/iukRJwRycN
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) August 12, 2017
2:05 p.m. ET – Laura Ingraham points out that media is finding a convenient scapegoat to bash President Trump:
The media are giving this hate group everything it desires–attention–and mostly in attempt to blame @POTUS. https://t.co/Pr2VdD2Udw
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) August 12, 2017
1:55 p.m. ET – More journalists and activists trying to use the opportunity to tie the Trump campaign/administration to white supremacists:
The neo #KKK protesting in #Charlottesville received their basic training, marching orders & inspiration from #Trump campaign rallies. @CNN pic.twitter.com/S26ng3T4UV
— Cornell Wm. Brooks (@CornellWBrooks) August 12, 2017
Coming up on CNN to say it’s time to drop euphemisms like “alt-right” & call #Charlottesville organizers what they are: white supremacists
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) August 12, 2017
Three days ago, a Trump aide was on Breitbart aggressively minimizing the problem of white supremacists: https://t.co/3mALnH4Wpt
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 12, 2017
1:40 p.m. ET – RICHARD PAINTER, an official at the left-wing CREW that Media Matters’ David Brock headed until recently, is referred to by every outlet as “George W. Bush’s former ethics lawyer, to allow himself to be used as their useful idiot. Painter, on cue, Breitbart News:
@RWPUSA: “This is the face of fascism in America… This is Breitbart news, what you are seeing on the streets of Charlottesville.” #amjoy
— Jeff Jarvis (@jeffjarvis) August 12, 2017
1:35 p.m. ET – Vice President Pence also condemns the violence:
I stand with @POTUS against hate & violence. U.S is greatest when we join together & oppose those seeking to divide us. #Charlottesville https://t.co/p76Y9xQCPL
— Vice President Pence (@VP) August 12, 2017
1:30 p.m. ET – President Trump condemns the violence in Charlottesville:
We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017
1:20 p.m. ET – Michael Moore and Democratic house leadership also chime in:
Trump’s America: The last days of White rule. It’s always a bitch to have to give up power you’ve held for 300 years https://t.co/2OKcWZc8bA
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) August 12, 2017
.@realdonaldtrump, your silence speaks volumes. #Charlottesville.
— Rep. Joe Crowley (@repjoecrowley) August 12, 2017
Our nation is defined by the march of progress. Our strength lies in our diversity. We must reject hate. #Charlottesville
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) August 12, 2017
1:10 p.m. ET – Some reactions from Twitter, predictably smearing President Trump and his advisers:
President Trump’s silence as #Charlottesville roils with racist and fascist provocation is shameful, irresponsible…and, DEFINING.
— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) August 12, 2017
Anyone not noticing the similarities between Trump and Hitler supporters isn’t paying attention. This is his base! Our county is in danger! https://t.co/NRzrKJWRy0
— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) August 12, 2017
Wondering how sad @SebGorka is to not be in #Charlottesville …
— Jesse Ferguson (@JesseFFerguson) August 12, 2017
1 p.m. ET – According to the Washington Post, the scheduled noon rally never took place as fighting started Friday night and then continued Saturday morning. The Post reported:
Men in combat gear, some wearing bicycle and motorcycle helmets and carrying clubs and sticks and makeshift shields fought each other in the downtown streets, with little apparent police interference. Both sides sprayed each other with chemical irritants and plastic bottles were hurled through the air. A large contingent of Charlottesville and Virginia state police in riot gear were stationed on side streets and at nearby barricades but did nothing to break up the melee. A group of three dozen self-described “militia” – men who were wearing full camouflage and were armed with long guns – said they were there to help keep the peace, but they also did not break up the fights.
12:50 p.m. ET – First Lady Melania Trump urges the violence to stop:
Our country encourages freedom of speech, but let’s communicate w/o hate in our hearts. No good comes from violence. #Charlottesville
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) August 12, 2017
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