Violent clashes have erupted between thousands of white supremacists and counter-protesters in the southern state of Virginia, leaving several people injured.
Clashes broke out on Saturday morning in the Emancipation Park area, in Charlottesville city -- about 100 miles outside of Washington, DC.
Several people were injured and an unspecified number of others were arrested. Officials said two people were treated already for serious injuries.
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency "to aid state response to violence" at the rally.
Police anticipated some 2,000 to 6,000 people, including counter-demonstrators, will converge in the city.
The city officials, who declared the gathering an "unlawful assembly," declared a local emergency.
Car rams into crowd at rally
Meanwhile, a vehicle plowed into a group of people who were rallying through downtown Charlottesville.
At least one person was seen on the ground receiving medical treatment immediately afterward the incident.
A witness said one girl got "tore up" after the car "backed up and they hit again." The incident occurred as hundreds had descended on the normally tranquil city of Charlottesville either to take part in or voice condemnation for a far-right rally that quickly erupted in violence.
More than 500 white supremacists already left the Emancipation Park area after fights broke out between them and counter protesters.
Riot police, wearing gas masks, are working to disperse the crowd, while helicopters are flying overhead, but the situation is being deteriorated as thousands of protesters are still arriving into the area.
Police said people were throwing bottles at each other and firing pepper spray at other demonstrators.
President Donald Trump took to Twitter once again and condemned the ongoing violence.
"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," he tweeted.
The rally was organized by a far right group to protest a plan to remove a statue of General Robert E. Lee and call for the protection of Southern Confederate monuments.
Back in February, the City Council voted to remove the statue of Lee, who was leading southern forces against the Union Army in the American Civil War. He has been venerated as a heroic figure in the South.
White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the "alt-right" with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the "Unite the Right" rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police August 12, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by AFP)
In response to the nationalist rally, local demonstrators and anti-racist activists from all over the country were called to Charlottesville from all over the country to oppose the event.
Among the opposing groups, Black Lives Matter and SURJ (Showing up for Racial Justice) campaigners will also be attending the rally.
The Southern Poverty Law Center said the event could be the "largest hate-gathering of its kind in decades in the United States.
According to the city Manager Maurice Jones, approximately 1,000 law enforcement officers and first responders, including the largest deployment by Virginia State Police in 30 years, will be on site of the rally.
Clashes erupted between hundreds of white nationalists, who were carrying blazing torches, with counter-demonstrators at the University of Virginia campus Friday night.
The marchers were chanting slogans including "white lives matter" and "you will not replace us." Nazi expression like "blood and soil" could also be heard in the rally.
Walking through the campus, the nationalists were met by the counter-protesters and a brief scuffle broke out between the two groups.
People in both groups started throwing punches and pushing each other.
Police, who were arrived to break up the clashes, sprayed chemical irritant into the protesters.
At least one person was arrested and several on campus were treated for minor injuries.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/7976
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