President Donald Trump condemned « this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides » in Virginia after a car plowed into a crowd of people peacefully protesting a white supremacist rally in downtown Charlottesville Saturday afternoon.
BEDMINSTER, N. J. — President Donald Trump condemned « this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides » in Virginia after a car plowed into a crowd of people peacefully protesting a white supremacist rally in downtown Charlottesville Saturday afternoon.
At least one person was reported dead and 19 injured.
« What is vital now is a swift restoration of law and order and the protection of innocent lives, » the president said, adding that « we have to come together as Americans with love for our nation and … true affection for each other. »
Trump said he’s spoken with the governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, and « we agreed that the hate and the division must stop and must stop right now. »
The president made his comments at a bill signing ceremony at his golf club in New Jersey where he’s on a working vacation.
University of Virginia Medical Center spokeswoman Angela Taylor confirmed the death to The Associated Press.
Mike Signer, the mayor of Charlottesville, said via Twitter on Saturday that he is « heartbroken » to announce that a « life has been lost. » He did not provide details.
I am heartbroken that a life has been lost here. I urge all people of good will–go home.
@realDonaldTrump, thanks, at long last, for condemning hate in speech and action. Our work here is just beginning. Yours is too.
An Associated Press reporter saw at least one person on the ground receiving medical treatment immediately after the car careened into the line of several hundred people.
Matt Korbon, a 22-year-old University of Virginia student, said counter-protesters were marching when « suddenly there was just this tire screeching sound. » A silver sedan smashed into another car, then backed up, plowing through « a sea of people. »
People scattered, running for safety in different directions, he said.
It happened about two hours after violent clashes broke out between white nationalists, who descended on the town to rally against the city’s plans to remove a statue of the Confederal Gen. Robert E. Lee, and others who arrived to protest the racism.
Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays. At least eight were injured and one arrested in connection to the earlier violence. It remains unclear if the driver of the car has been apprehended.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency, and police dressed in riot gear ordered people out.
Small bands of protesters who showed up to express their opposition to the rally were seen marching around the city peacefully by midafternoon, chanting and waving flags. Helicopters circled overhead.
Right-wing blogger Jason Kessler had called for what he termed a « pro-white » rally to protest the city of Charlottesville’s decision to remove the confederate statue from a downtown park.
White supremacist rally in Virginia: 1 dead, 19 injured after car plows into crowd
