Violent clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia during what would have been the Unite the Right rally has caused Governor Terry McAuliffe to declare a state of emergency as the unrest escalates.
In an earlier report from Blavity, the governor also declared via Twitter that the rally was an unlawful assembly in Emancipation Park.
Currently, there are 2,000 to 6,000 gathered for the rally of white nationalists, neo-Nazis, alt-right activists and pro-Confederacy groups.
Seeing the photos out of Charlottesville tonight reminds me of this from @ava's documentary. pic.twitter.com/n6Y6NOZvCe
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) August 12, 2017
Tear gas and smoke bombs deployed on #AltRight demonstrators and counterprotestors #Antifa
#Cville
#DefendCville
#Charlottesville
pic.twitter.com/JFa42Gk3Bj— Karla (@KarlaAnnCote) August 12, 2017
Rev Traci Blackmon ON #AMJOY
#DefendCVille
#Charlottesviille
#NABJ
#nabj17
pic.twitter.com/EG6QP4zwRa— Lauren Victoria (@LVBurke) August 12, 2017
Cops need to step in. This is getting out of control. #Charlottesville
pic.twitter.com/RpI8Y17eLZ— Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) August 12, 2017
.@PASTORTRACI: Where is all the militarization & mobilization that has happened in the past? #AMJoy
#Charlottesville
https://t.co/6lZJ1yCsF6— AM Joy w/Joy Reid (@amjoyshow) August 12, 2017
From the outset, there have been violent clashes. Late Friday, Aug. 11, video captured white supremacist rallygoers assaulting counter-protesters with little to no police interference to stop the chaos.
After the declared state of emergency, riot gear-clad officers took the streets.
Police in riot gear arrive on the scene to disperse alt-right Unite the Right marchers. #Charlottsville
pic.twitter.com/WzI8syPDhK— The Rouser (@RouserNews) August 12, 2017
This report will be updated as new developments come in.
